Pope Leo sticks to busy schedule before surgery to remove lung nodule

Pope Leo, the leader of the world's 1.4-billion-member Church, has been diligently maintaining his regular schedule as he prepares to undergo a minor surgical procedure on a small lung growth. On Monday, the 71-year-old pontiff held seven meetings that were previously planned, despite his impending surgery. The Vatican has not disclosed the exact date for the operation, but they anticipate that the pope's recovery will take roughly one week.

The growth, a small nodule, was discovered during a routine health check and is currently contained. Pope Leo, elected in May 2025, was revealed to be in good health aside from this minor issue. He enjoys sports, including tennis, and is not known to be a smoker or to have a history of health problems. The Vatican press office confirmed that the usual daily schedule announcement, released at noon, included meetings with visiting bishops from Argentina, Nicaragua, and the United States.

Despite the upcoming surgery, the Wednesday Mass in St. Peter's Square remains on the calendar and has not been canceled as of Monday morning.