Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Lung Surgery in Rome Soon

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to undergo surgery at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome after doctors discovered a small, localized nodule in his lung during recent medical examinations. The 71-year-old Pontiff announced this development on October 11 while addressing the faithful during the Angelus, stating that the nodule was detected at a very early stage and was well-localized.

He accepted the recommendation of his medical team to have the nodule surgically removed. The operation is set to take place in the coming days, with an estimated post-operative recovery time of about one week, as confirmed by Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office.

The health of Pope Leo XIV, who leads approximately 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, is now under international scrutiny, with further updates expected from the Vatican following the procedure. The Vatican has not disclosed whether the nodule is cancerous.