Pope Leo to have lung nodule removed in coming days

Pope Leo XIV has told pilgrims in St Peter’s Square that doctors found a nodule in the Pope’s lung and that Leo will have it removed in an operation in the coming days.

Leo made the announcement at the end of the Angelus prayer on 11 October, after greeting a series of pilgrim groups. The Pope said that “during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung”, in the English translation published by the Vatican. “It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized.”

“The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” Leo said. “The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days.” He ended the announcement by saying: “I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers.”

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, answered journalists’ questions, Vatican News reported. The report quoted Bruni, in translation, as saying the operation is scheduled for “the first days of this week”.

The procedure will take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, according to the same report.

Neither the Pope’s remarks nor the Vatican News report said what kind of nodule it is, who will carry out the operation or on which day it will be performed.

Earlier in the same round of greetings, Leo greeted the Hermandad del Señor de los Milagros in Rome and those who took part in its procession, and thanked them for their prayers for “the pastoral visit I will make to Peru”. Neither the Pope’s remarks nor the Vatican News report says whether the operation affects that trip.

The announcement came after the main Angelus address, which was on the Gospel reading about the wedding feast for a king’s son. In the greetings that followed, the Pope also appealed to the parties in the war in Ukraine to allow the safe transport of grain through the Black Sea.