Pope Leo XIV announces surgery to remove small lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV said on October 11 that he would undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small nodule in his lung. He announced the finding after Sunday's Angelus prayer at the Vatican.

The pope said doctors had discovered the nodule during medical examinations at a very early stage. He described it as small and well localized. Doctors considered surgery appropriate, and he said he had decided to follow their recommendation to have it removed.

He did not give an exact date for the operation in his public remarks. Vatican News confirmed his announcement, while Catholic News Service, in a report published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the procedure was planned for this week.