Pope Leo XIV schedules lung surgery
Pope Leo XIV told St. Peter's Square he will have surgery in coming days after doctors found an early, well-localised lung nodule.
FaithTap · Oct 11, 2026 · 1 min read
Pope Leo XIV told pilgrims at his Sunday noon blessing in St. Peter's Square that doctors recently found an early, well-localised nodule on his lung and believe it would be right to intervene. The 71-year-old said the mass was well-contained and caught at an early stage, and that following medical advice he has decided to undergo surgery already scheduled for the coming days, entrusting himself to their prayers.
The Vatican said the surgery will be the first days of next week and that post-operation recovery will be around one week. He has no previously known health problems and is known to play weekly tennis and swim at Castel Gandolfo. No diagnosis or further medical details have been disclosed, and it is not yet clear whether the surgery will affect his planned November 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
CONTESTED: Israel Hayom describes the matter as surgery following a diagnosis; other rated coverage and the wire state no diagnosis was disclosed.