Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery to remove a small nodule in his lung after doctors recommended an operation following recent medical examinations.
Speaking after the Angelus prayer on Sunday, 11 October 2026, the Pope said the nodule had been detected early and was confined to a small area, according to Vatican News.
He said he had accepted his doctors’ advice and that the operation was already scheduled for the coming days.
“I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers,” he told those gathered.
Operation planned in Rome
Vatican News said the procedure would take place at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said it was scheduled for the first days of the week, with an estimated recovery period of about one week.
Associated Press reported that the 71-year-old Pope’s exact operation date had not been publicly specified. It also reported that Vatican officials suggested he might miss Wednesday’s closing Mass for a conference on family ministry.
A lung nodule does not establish cancer
Reuters reported that the Vatican had not disclosed whether the nodule was believed to be cancerous. The announcement should therefore not be interpreted as confirmation of lung cancer.
The American Cancer Society describes a lung nodule as a small abnormal area in the lung. Most nodules seen on CT scans are not cancer and may result from old infections, scar tissue or other causes.
Further tests may be needed to establish their nature. When tissue is removed, laboratory examination can help determine whether it contains cancer cells or another condition. This is general medical information, rather than a diagnosis of the Pope’s nodule.
Messages of support followed the announcement. In a separate report, Vatican News said bishops in the United States, Italy, Malta and Latin America had offered prayers for the Pope and his medical team.
