Pope Leo announces he will undergo surgery to remove lung nodule
Pope Leo announces he will undergo surgery to remove lung nodule
Pope Leo XIV has announced he will undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule that was discovered during recent health checks.
The 71-year-old pope made the announcement to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer on Sunday.
“It was detected at a very early stage and is well-defined. The doctors deem it advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it.”
A lung nodule is a small mass of dense tissue on the lung and most are non-cancerous. But risks can rise with factors like age.
The Vatican said that the procedure was scheduled for early next week and that he would need a week in hospital to recover.
During this period the Vatican will continue to function as normal, but decisions needing the pope’s signature will be placed on hold.
Leo is relatively young for a pope, and is generally seen to be in good health. He plays tennis and remains physically active.
Health problems dogged previous popes with Leo’s predecessor Francis spending an extended period in hospital and facing multiple health difficulties in the final months of his life.
Leo XIV is preparing for a major visit to Latin America from 6-17 November where he is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The pope has a demanding daily schedule of meetings and public events, although on Tuesday takes a day off at the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni offered her support to Leo “as he faces this challenge in the coming days.”
