Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church and the first from the United States, has announced that he will undergo surgery to remove a 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 and that doctors have advised him to have it removed. The operation is planned to take place in the coming days at the Gemelli hospital in Rome.
According to the Vatican press office, the pope's surgery is expected to take place in the next few days, with a recovery time of around one week. The operation will be performed at the Gemelli hospital, which has frequently treated popes since John Paul II. The Vatican has not provided information on whether the surgery and recovery will affect the pope's agenda for international trips, including his upcoming visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru between November 6 and 17.
The pope's announcement has sparked an outpouring of support from world leaders and the faithful. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her "personal closeness, and that of the Italian government, as he confronts this ordeal of the coming days". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wished the pope a "successful surgery and a swift, full recovery", adding that "our thoughts and prayers are with him, and we hope he will soon be back in good health and strength".
In countries that the pope is due to visit, people are expressing hope for his quick recovery. In Chiclayo, Peru, Olga Pol, 62, said that "a lung nodule is no small matter. Let's hope God grants him the ability to travel by air and that he gets better soon". Diana Celi, a retired journalist, added that "the people of Peru are eagerly awaiting him" and that "I'm certain that all of Peru is praying for the pope and that he'll pull through".
The pope's visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru has been in preparation for several months, with spiritual and practical arrangements underway. Archbishop Daniel Sturla of Montevideo called on the faithful to pray for the pope's "speedy recovery" and to continue preparations for his visit to Uruguay "with even greater enthusiasm". Argentina's bishops' conference also urged Catholics to join in a special prayer for the pope ahead of the surgery.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, was elected leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, 2025. As the first US pope, he has gradually imprinted his style on the leadership of the Catholic Church, addressing pressing issues such as conflicts and artificial intelligence. He has also been a vocal critic of war, condemning the US threat to destroy Iran as "truly unacceptable" and urging Americans to demand that lawmakers "work for peace".
The pope's surgery and recovery will be closely watched by the global community, with many leaders and Catholics around the world praying for his swift and full recovery. The Vatican has not provided further details on the pope's condition or the expected outcome of the surgery.
Key points
- The surgery is expected to take place in the next few days at the Gemelli hospital in Rome.
- The pope's recovery time is expected to be around one week.
- The surgery may impact the pope's agenda for international trips, including his upcoming visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
