Pope Leo to undergo surgery after lump found on lung

Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery "in the coming days" following the discovery of a nodule on his lung during a routine medical examination. During a Sunday prayer service in St Peter's Square in Rome, the 71-year-old pontiff informed the public that the doctors had identified an early, localized nodule on his lung.

The medical team treating Pope Leo XIV deemed it appropriate to proceed with the operation and assured the faithful that the condition had been detected in its initial stages. The Pope's admission that he would require surgery came nearly 18 months after he succeeded Pope Francis, who had also faced lung-related health issues necessitating hospitalization.

Following his Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude for the spiritual support offered and entrusted himself to the prayers of the faithful. The Holy See Press Office spokesperson, Matteo Bruni, informed the media that the surgical procedure is scheduled for the early days of the upcoming week, with an expected recovery period of approximately one week.

The operation will be conducted at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, a facility that has established a dedicated Papal suite since the failed assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in May 1981. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog all extended their personal solidarity and wished Pope Leo XIV a peaceful recovery and a swift return to good health.

Despite his age, Pope Leo XIV, originally named Robert Francis Prevost, remains the 267th Pope, making him the first U.S. citizen to assume the role. He was ordained in 1982 and served as a missionary in Peru, where he was renowned for his work with marginalized communities. The Pope confirmed that his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November would still proceed as scheduled, with Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo urging prayers for his recovery.