Pope Leo XIV Reveals Doctors Found Lung Nodule as He Prepares for Surgery and Appeals for Prayers

Pope Leo XIV says doctors found a small lung nodule and that he will undergo surgery in Rome within days, asking Catholics worldwide to keep him in their prayers. U.S. Department of State/WikiMedia Commons Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule discovered during recent medical examinations. The procedure is scheduled for the coming days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, and the 71-year-old pontiff has asked for prayers.

Speaking after the Angelus on Sunday, 11 October, Leo said doctors had found a ‘small, localized nodule’ that was detected ‘at a very early stage and is well-localized’. He said he had accepted their recommendation to remove it, adding: ‘I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers.’

Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni said the operation was scheduled for the first days of the week. He gave an estimated postoperative recovery period of about one week.

That estimate is not confirmation of when the Pope will leave the hospital, resume his usual schedule or be cleared for international travel. Those decisions will depend on his medical team’s assessment following the procedure.

The announcement did not specify the surgical technique or identify the nodule as benign or malignant. Leo’s reference to detection at a ‘very early stage’ should not be interpreted as a disclosed cancer diagnosis or cancer stage.

Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. 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…

The American Lung Association says most lung nodules are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. Doctors determine the next steps using the characteristics of the nodule, additional test results and the patient’s overall health and risk factors.

That general medical information does not establish the nature of Leo’s condition. The public announcement provides his account of the finding and the recommendation for surgery, rather than a detailed clinical assessment.

Leo’s papacy began in May 2025. His decision to share the medical news after the Angelus placed it within one of his regular public appearances, allowing him to address the faithful directly and ask for their support.

Before announcing the procedure, Leo addressed the war in Ukraine and its consequences for people beyond the region. He highlighted the dependence of poorer countries on grain imports and called for safe passage through the Black Sea.

‘I make a heartfelt appeal to the parties to the conflict to allow for the safe transport of grain through the Black Sea,’ he said.

‘The daily bread of millions of people cannot be held hostage by the war.’

The appeal focused on the humanitarian consequences of disrupted food supplies. It was separate from the health announcement that followed and did not provide information about his medical condition or recovery.

The address therefore combined two distinct messages: a call to protect access to essential food supplies and a personal request for prayers as he prepared for surgery.

The war in tormented Ukraine continues to cause suffering far beyond its borders, especially in the poorest countries, where so many people depend on grain imports. I make a heartfelt appeal to the parties to the conflict to allow for the safe transport of grain through the Black…

The procedure comes less than a month before Leo’s planned journey to South America. The Vatican announced in August that he would visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November.

A detailed programme published on 21 September begins with a flight from Rome to Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital. The itinerary then takes the Pope to Argentina and Peru, including a return to Chiclayo.

Peru has particular significance for Leo, who spent years there as a missionary before becoming bishop of Chiclayo. He was appointed to that role in 2015 and was called to Rome in 2023 to lead the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops.

The planned visit would bring him back to places associated with his pastoral work before his election as Pope. It is an established part of the published itinerary, rather than a trip announced in response to his medical news.

No revised itinerary was identified in the official material available when this article was prepared. However, the estimated postoperative recovery period does not establish that the Pope will be ready to undertake every scheduled engagement.

For now, the November journey remains the published plan. Further Vatican statements would be needed to confirm any changes to the itinerary or his public schedule following the operation.