Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he will have surgery to remove a nodule from his lung within the coming days. The 71-year-old pontiff made the disclosure after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, according to franceinfo.
The pope said the nodule had been found at an early stage. He told those gathered that his doctors considered an operation necessary, and that he had agreed to follow their recommendation and have it taken out.
Why it matters
Any medical procedure on a sitting pope draws global attention, and this announcement comes directly from the pontiff himself rather than through a written statement. Leo XIV chose to share the news in public, at the end of a regular Sunday appearance, which kept the disclosure tied to his usual rhythm of prayer and contact with the faithful.
The timing also matters because the pope gave few specifics. He did not name the hospital, the exact date or the type of procedure. Those details came later from the Vatican, leaving a short window in which the basic facts rested on the pope's own words.
What the Vatican has said about the schedule
A Vatican spokesperson said the pope is expected to be operated on in the opening days of the week that begins Monday, franceinfo reports. The same spokesperson said the pope's stay in hospital should last about a week.
According to franceinfo, the procedure is expected to take place at Gemelli hospital in Rome. The facility has long served as the site of papal medical care, a practice that dates back to the pontificate of John Paul II.
The pope's remarks were brief and did not address what kind of nodule was found, how large it was, or what tests led doctors to recommend surgery. He described only the early detection and the medical advice he received.
A public announcement, then a short wait
Leo XIV spoke after the Angelus, the noonday prayer that regularly brings crowds to St. Peter's Square. Announcing a pending operation in that setting put the news before pilgrims and journalists at the same moment, rather than filtering it first through a press office.
The pope also thanked people for their spiritual closeness and asked for the prayers of the faithful, according to an Italian-language report cited in the coverage.
That combination — a medical update delivered in a religious setting, followed by a request for prayer — is consistent with how the Vatican has handled recent papal health matters. The institution tends to confirm clinical details only after the pope has spoken publicly.
For now, the confirmed elements are limited: a nodule in the lung, found early, surgery advised by doctors and accepted by the pope, to be carried out in the next few days, with roughly a week in hospital expected at Gemelli.
What to watch
The next concrete development will be the operation itself and the Vatican's account of how it went. Until then, the pope's schedule and any adjustments to his public appearances will indicate how the Holy See is preparing for the week ahead.
