Pope Leo XIV has announced he will have surgery this week to remove a nodule discovered on his lung, which the pontiff said was found at an early stage.
Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV, 71, will undergo surgery to remove a nodule on his lung.
- The pope said the nodule was found at an early stage and was well localised.
- The Vatican said surgery will take place in the first days of this week, with an expected recovery of about a week.
- Leo informed pilgrims during his weekly Sunday blessing at St Peter's Square.
- The pope has no previously known health problems and is considered physically active.
Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule found on his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff said the growth had been identified during recent medical checks and was detected at an early stage, according to the BBC and The Guardian.
The pope described the nodule as “circumscribed” or well localised, The Guardian reported. NPR said doctors had found what was described as a “localized nodule” in his lung. Leo informed pilgrims about the planned procedure during his weekly Sunday blessing at St Peter’s Square, according to Al Jazeera.
The Vatican later said Leo would undergo surgery in the first days of this week, with an expected recovery time of around a week, The Guardian reported. Al Jazeera said the pope announced he will undergo the surgery this week to remove the nodule.
Leo has no previously known health problems and is considered physically active, according to CNBC, which noted he plays tennis weekly and swims at the summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo.
The announcement, carried by outlets including the BBC, Sky News, NPR and CNBC, offered limited further detail beyond the pope’s own characterisation of the nodule and the Vatican’s timeline for the procedure and recovery.
Why it matters
The health of the pope draws global attention given his role as spiritual leader to the world's Catholics. The early-stage detection and the Vatican's short expected recovery period will be closely watched by the faithful and observers worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
What surgery is Pope Leo having?
Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery to remove a nodule, described as a nodular lesion, found on his lung. He said it was detected at an early stage and was well localised.
When will the surgery take place?
The Vatican said the surgery would take place in the first days of this week, with an expected recovery time of about a week, according to The Guardian.
Does the pope have other health problems?
According to CNBC, Leo has no previously known health problems and is considered physically active, playing tennis weekly and swimming at the summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo.