Standing before thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV delivered unexpected personal news alongside his noon blessing — the 71-year-old American pontiff announced he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small nodular lesion discovered on his lung. The disclosure, made calmly and with characteristic composure, sent ripples of concern and prayers across the Catholic world.
Leo said the nodule was identified during a recent routine medical check and was caught at an early stage. He described it as
“a small, localized nodule in my lung. 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 Vatican confirmed the surgery is scheduled for early in the coming week, with doctors expecting a recovery period of approximately one week.
According to the American Cancer Society, a lung nodule is a small abnormal area measuring less than 3 centimeters — roughly an inch — that can appear on CT scans of the chest or abdomen. Such scans are often ordered to investigate unrelated issues like trauma or respiratory infections, not necessarily as part of cancer screenings.
A Pope in Good Health — Until Now
By all accounts, Leo XIV entered his papacy as a physically vigorous man with no known health problems. He is known to play tennis weekly and swims regularly at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo. His active lifestyle has stood in contrast to the declining health that marked the final months of his predecessor.
Pope Francis, who died April 21, 2025, from a stroke following a prolonged hospitalization triggered by a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia, had long suffered from chronic lung disease. As a young man, Francis had part of one lung surgically removed — a health history that shadowed his later years in the papacy.
Leo is expected to have his procedure performed at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the same facility where Pope Francis and previous popes received medical care. The hospital maintains a special apartment reserved for the use of sitting pontiffs.
Prayers Requested, Trip Plans Unchanged — For Now
After making his announcement, Leo thanked those gathered in the square for their closeness and asked for their spiritual support.
“The surgery is already scheduled for the coming days. Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers,”
he said.
A major question hanging over the announcement is whether Leo’s planned apostolic journey — a November 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru — will be affected. Despite the surgery news, Leo indicated during his Sunday remarks that he still intends to make the trip.
World leaders quickly offered support. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who was among the few outside visitors to see Pope Francis during his final hospitalization, expressed solidarity on behalf of the Italian government. She said in a statement that
“the serenity and calm with which he spoke about it”
were reassuring to her and to the Italian people.
For Catholics around the world, Leo’s transparency about his health — choosing to make the announcement himself during a public blessing — reflects the pastoral directness that has characterized his early papacy. Prayers for his swift recovery have already begun to spread across parishes and faith communities globally.
For more faith and religion coverage, visit Religion News Service, where reporters Nicole Winfield and Colleen Barry contributed to this report. RNS also covers stories such as Pope Leo XIV’s review of Pope Francis’ outreach to civilly remarried Catholics, Catholic and evangelical leaders condemning public execution plans, and a Catholic Iowa bishop advocating for an immigrant facing deportation. You can sign up for free RNS newsletters to stay current on essential religion journalism each weekday.
