The Vatican said on Sunday that the procedure was scheduled for the first few days of the week.
The pope said the abnormality had been detected at an early stage and was localised, adding that he had decided to proceed with surgery on medical advice. In remarks delivered in Italian, Leo said, “doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers,” he said.
Pope Leo XIV is set to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small nodule from his lung, which doctors discovered during a recent medical examination. It was detected at a very early stage and is circumscribed. The doctors believe it’s best to take action, so, following their advice, I’ve decided to have surgery to remove it. “The surgery is already scheduled for the coming days.
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, died on April 21, 2025, following a stroke after a prolonged hospital stay that began with a respiratory crisis and developed into double pneumonia. The pontiff is expected to undergo the procedure at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, a facility that has treated several popes, including his predecessor, Pope Francis. The hospital has a dedicated apartment for pontiffs. Francis had suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed when he was a young man.