Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule discovered in his lung during recent medical examinations.
The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed the development on Sunday while addressing worshippers at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, assuring them that the growth was detected at a very early stage and was well localised.
According to the Pope, his doctors recommended surgery, prompting him to agree to the procedure to remove the nodule.
The Vatican said the operation was expected to take place in the early part of the coming week, with his recovery anticipated to last approximately one week.
However, officials have not disclosed whether the lung nodule is cancerous or benign.
Born in Chicago, United States, Pope Leo XIV became the first American pontiff when he was elected leader of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025.
Since assuming the papacy, Leo has increasingly taken public positions on major global issues, including armed conflicts and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.
He recently criticised the United States and Israel’s war against Iran, describing US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran as unacceptable and urging American lawmakers to work towards peace.
Trump subsequently criticised the Pope’s foreign policy positions, describing him as weak on crime and ineffective on foreign policy. Leo, however, maintained that he had a moral responsibility to speak out on issues affecting peace and human dignity.
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