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Pope Leo XIV to have surgery on a lung nodule found at an early stage
Leo XIV announced on Sunday during the Angelus prayer that he will have an operation in the coming days. According to the Vatican, recovery should take about a week.
"A nodule has been found at an early stage, and in the coming days I will undergo surgery," Leo XIV said at noon on Sunday during the Angelus prayer, in Polsat's Polish translation. About 25,000 people were in St Peter's Square at the time. The pope is 71.
What the Vatican says
The nodule is in the lung and was found early. The Vatican has not said whether it is malignant. Holy See spokesman Matteo Bruni said the procedure will take place early this week and recovery will take about a week. Italian newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica report that the operation will be at the Gemelli hospital and that the pope may be admitted on Tuesday. The Vatican has not officially confirmed this. According to Il Messaggero, the nodule was found almost by chance after his trip to France.
Trip unchanged
The trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru planned from 6 November has not been cancelled. Commentators say that by announcing the news himself, the pope wanted to put an end to rumours about his health.
Source: Polsat News, RMF24, La Stampa, Corriere della Sera (11–12 Oct 2026)