Pope Leo has announced plans to undergo surgery this week to remove a small growth detected in his lung during a recent medical examination.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed this on Sunday while addressing pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square for his weekly prayer, describing the nodule as localised and detected at an early stage.
“Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a localised nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained,” he said.
Leo explained that his doctors had recommended surgery to remove the growth and that the procedure had been scheduled for the coming days.
“The doctors believe it is advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” he added.
The Vatican has not disclosed whether the nodule is suspected to be cancerous or provided further details about the pontiff’s condition.
Lung nodules are small, localised growths that can be benign. According to lung cancer specialist Stephen Liu of Georgetown University in Washington, such nodules are relatively common and often non-cancerous.
He explained that surgical removal could provide a definitive diagnosis when doctors consider it necessary, depending on the nodule’s location and the patient’s overall health.
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Leo, who was elected pope in May 2025, is considered relatively young for a leader of the Catholic Church. He enjoys sports, including tennis, and is not known to smoke or have experienced previous health problems.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed support for the pontiff ahead of the procedure, extending her personal wishes and those of the Italian government.
“The serenity and composure with which he spoke about it today are reassuring,” she said.
The Vatican press office said the pope’s recovery from surgery was expected to take about a week, although it did not immediately provide further information about his health.
Leo maintains a busy schedule and is expected to embark on an 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
Before announcing his health condition during Sunday’s address, he thanked Catholics for their prayers ahead of the planned pastoral visit.
