{
  "id": 13698241,
  "title": "Pope Leo to undergo surgery for small growth on lung",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-to-undergo-surgery-for-small-growth-on-lung",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-11T10:58:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3370499/pope-leo-undergo-surgery-small-growth-lung"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo, the 71-year-old pontiff, has announced he will undergo surgery to remove a small growth detected on his lung during a recent health examination. This marks the first health concern of his 71-year tenure as pope. During his weekly Sunday prayer in St. Peter's Square, Leo informed his congregation that the growth was \"well-contained\" and caught at an early stage. The pontiff explained that doctors had found a localized nodule in his lung during routine medical tests. He stated, \"It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained.\" Following their advice, Leo decided to undergo the surgery, which is scheduled to take place in the coming days. Born in 1954, Leo is relatively young for a Church leader. He is known to enjoy sports, particularly tennis, and has no prior history of health issues. The late pope Francis, Leo's predecessor, died at the age of 88 and experienced increasing frailty in his later years. The Vatican press office has indicated that Leo's post-surgery recovery is expected to take about a week.",
  "summary": "Pope Leo said on Sunday that doctors had detected a small growth on his lung during a recent health check and he would be undergoing surgery this week to remove it, in the first health scare of the 71-year-old pontiff’s tenure. Leo told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly Sunday prayer that the growth was “well-contained” and caught at an early stage. “Recently, during some medical…",
  "key_points": [
    "Pope Leo, 71, to undergo surgery for lung growth",
    "Small nodule detected during routine medical tests",
    "Surgery scheduled to take place in coming days"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 14,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Pope Leo to undergo surgery in coming days after nodule discovered on his lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-to-undergo-surgery-in-coming-days-after-nodule-discovered-on",
        "published": "2026-10-11T10:25:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "🔴Pope Leo says will undergo surgery for early-stage lung nodule",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-says-will-undergo-surgery-for-early-stage-lung-nodule",
        "published": "2026-10-11T10:35:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV says he will undergo surgery to remove nodule in lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-xiv-says-he-will-undergo-surgery-to-remove-nodule-in-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-11T10:36:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Pope to undergo surgery to remove nodule on lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-to-undergo-surgery-to-remove-nodule-on-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-11T10:40:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV to have surgery in 'coming days' to remove nodule in lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-xiv-to-have-surgery-in-coming-days-to-remove-nodule-in-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-11T11:02:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Pope Leo to have surgery after lump found on lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-to-have-surgery-after-lump-found-on-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-11T11:06:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Pope Leo says he will undergo surgery for small growth on lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-says-he-will-undergo-surgery-for-small-growth-on-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-11T11:12:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV announces surgery in coming days after lung nodule detected",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-xiv-announces-surgery-in-coming-days-after-lung-nodule",
        "published": "2026-10-11T11:22:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Pope Leo to undergo surgery for small growth on lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-to-undergo-surgery-for-small-growth-on-lung-13706316",
        "published": "2026-10-11T11:28:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Pope Leo to undergo surgery after nodule discovered on his lung, he says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-to-undergo-surgery-after-nodule-discovered-on-his-lung-he",
        "published": "2026-10-11T11:32:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery to remove nodule on his lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-xiv-will-undergo-surgery-to-remove-nodule-on-his-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-11T11:52:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Pope Leo to undergo surgery for small growth on lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-to-undergo-surgery-for-small-growth-on-lung-13710911",
        "published": "2026-10-11T12:01:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Pope Leo to undergo surgery for small growth on lung",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/pope-leo-to-undergo-surgery-for-small-growth-on-lung-13710949",
        "published": "2026-10-11T12:01:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}