Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a localized lung nodule detected at an early stage. The 71-year-old pope made the announcement during his weekly address in St Peter's Square, stating that the nodule was found during recent medical checks. The Vatican expects his recovery to take about a week, with a major international trip scheduled for November.
The operation will take place at the Gemelli hospital in Rome, which has frequently treated popes since John Paul II. The Vatican press office confirmed that the surgery is planned for the next few days and that the pope's recovery is expected to last around one week. The pope's agenda for international trips may be affected by the surgery and recovery, but no official information has been released.
Pope Leo XIV's upcoming trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru is scheduled from November 6 to 17. The trip may be a significant event for the pope, who has been leading the Catholic Church since his election on May 8, 2025. As the first US pope, Leo has been working to establish his style and address pressing global issues, including conflicts and artificial intelligence.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, expressed her support for the pope, stating that his calmness during the announcement was reassuring. She also expressed her personal closeness and that of the Italian government as the pope prepares for the surgery. Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo called on the faithful to pray for the pope's speedy recovery and to continue preparations for his upcoming visit to Uruguay.
The Argentine bishops' conference also urged Catholics to join in a special prayer for Pope Leo ahead of the surgery, asking for a swift and full recovery. Pope Leo has been a vocal critic of conflicts, including the war between the US and Iran, and has spoken out on issues such as artificial intelligence and clerical sex abuse.
As the pope prepares for surgery, he has been continuing his work, including urging French bishops to persevere in their efforts to combat clerical sex abuse. During a recent trip to France, Pope Leo warned against losing humanity in an AI-driven world and emphasized the need for human control over AI.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, was elected leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, 2025, following the death of his predecessor, Francis, on April 21, 2025. The pope's recovery from surgery is expected to take around one week, and his international trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru is scheduled for November.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV to undergo lung surgery to remove a localized nodule detected at an early stage
- The surgery is expected to take place in the coming days at the Gemelli hospital in Rome
- The pope's recovery is expected to last around one week, potentially affecting his international trip schedule
