Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery in the coming days after a nodule was discovered on his lung during a medical check-up. The 71-year-old Pope made the announcement during his weekly Sunday prayers in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. He reassured pilgrims that the mass was “well-contained” and caught “at an early stage.” The Pope’s medical team believes it is necessary to intervene, and he has agreed to the operation.
The Pope’s admission that he will need surgery comes nearly a year and a half after he succeeded Pope Francis, who also experienced lung issues that required hospital treatment. Pope Leo XIV concluded his Angelus prayer by thanking everyone for their “spiritual closeness” and entrusting himself to their prayers. Holy See Press Office spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the operation is scheduled for the first days of next week and that the Pope is expected to take about a week to recover.
The surgery will take place at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, which has a special Papal suite that was set up following the failed assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life in May 1981. The hospital’s Papal suite is still in use today. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her “personal solidarity” with the Pope as he faces the ordeal ahead, while Italian President Sergio Mattarella offered his “sincerest wishes for a peaceful recovery and a speedy and full return to health.”
Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, also wished the Pope a “full and speedy recovery.” Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Provost, is the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter and the first US citizen to hold the position. He was ordained in 1982 and spent years as a missionary in Peru, where he worked with marginalized communities. During Sunday’s service, the Pope confirmed that his upcoming visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November will still go ahead.
The Archbishop of Montevideo, Daniel Sturla, said preparations for the Pope’s tour will continue with “greater enthusiasm” as he called for prayers for his recovery. A lung nodule is a small lump of tissue that is usually detected following an X-ray or CT scan of the chest, according to the NHS. Most nodules do not cause other symptoms. The Pope’s medical team believes that early intervention will ensure a successful outcome.
The Pope’s visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru is scheduled for November, and Archbishop Sturla expressed his enthusiasm for the tour, which will now take place as planned. The Pope’s recovery is expected to take about a week, during which time he will be at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. The hospital has a long history of treating Popes and has a special unit dedicated to their care.
The international community has rallied around the Pope, offering support and well-wishes for his recovery. The Pope’s surgery is a significant event, and his health is closely followed by people around the world. Key points:
Key points
- The Pope will undergo surgery for a lung nodule at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
- The operation is scheduled for the first days of next week, and the Pope is expected to take about a week to recover.
- The Pope’s visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November will still go ahead as planned.
