Pope to undergo surgery

Leo announces he will undergo surgery to remove a nodular lesion on his lung

The Pope has announced he will undergo surgery to remove a nodular lesion on his lung that was recently discovered during medical checks.

Leo said it was found at an early stage and was “circumscribed”.

The 71-year-old made the announcement during his Sunday noon blessing.

A Vatican spokesman said surgery is planned in the coming week, with a recovery period of one week then expected.

He is expected to be treated at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, which has a special apartment for the Pope.

A lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than three centimetres that sometimes appears on a CT scan of the chest or abdomen, according to the American Cancer Society.

Often, the scans are done to investigate trauma or a lung infection, unrelated to a lung cancer screening.

The Pope has no previously known health problems and is known to be physically active, with weekly tennis games and swimming at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo.

Leo has a major trip planned to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November. The Vatican statement did not say what impact, if any, the surgery or recovery would have on the trip, but the Pope on Sunday asked for prayers for his upcoming visit to Peru especially.

Published: 11/10/2026 by Radio NewsHub