Pope Leo to undergo surgery in coming days after nodule discovered on his lung

Vatican City, October 11 - Pope Leo XIV revealed on Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the upcoming days due to a lung nodule detected during recent medical examinations. The 71-year-old pontiff stated that the nodule had been located at an early stage and was localized, making surgical intervention advisable according to medical advice.

He mentioned that the operation to remove the nodule has already been scheduled for the near future. Following his announcement during Angelus prayers, the Vatican press office confirmed that the anticipated recovery period from the procedure would last about a week. Born in Chicago, Pope Leo is the first US-born pope, succeeding Argentine Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.

Francis spent several weeks at Rome's Gemelli hospital for medical care, similar to what Pope Leo will likely experience. Leo assumed the role of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, 2025, following his predecessor's death. Despite a less exuberant demeanor compared to his predecessor, Leo has gradually established his leadership style and addressed pressing global issues such as conflicts and artificial intelligence.

Following the US and Israel's invasion of Iran in February, Pope Leo emerged as a prominent critic of the war, condemning US President Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iran as "truly unacceptable" and urging Americans to demand lawmakers to work for peace. Trump referred to Leo as "Weak on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," to which the pope responded that he had a "moral duty to speak out."