Pope Leo says he will undergo surgery for small growth on lung

Pope Leo has announced that he will undergo surgery this week to remove a small growth detected on his lung during a recent health check, marking the first health concern for the 71-year-old pontiff. Addressing pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, Leo stated that the growth was "well-contained" and identified at an early stage. He explained, "Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a localised nodule in my lung.

It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained." The pontiff decided to undergo the surgery following the advice of medical professionals, with the procedure scheduled for the following days. Born in 1954, Leo is relatively young for a Church leader, and he enjoys engaging in sports such as tennis. He has not previously reported any health issues.

Preceding Leo, Pope Francis, the late predecessor, passed away at the age of 88 and showed signs of increasing frailty in his later years. According to the Vatican press office, Leo's recovery from the surgery is anticipated to span approximately a week, though no additional details about his current health status were provided.