Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Lung Surgery for Early-Stage Nodule

Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he will undergo lung surgery this week to remove a small, localized nodule discovered during recent medical examinations. The Vatican did not specify the surgical method, but said the operation is planned for the first days of the week and that recovery is estimated to take about one week.

Dr. Ankit Bharat, chief of thoracic surgery at Northwestern Medicine, explained that the approach to surgery depends on the nodule’s size and location, and whether cancer is suspected. He noted that proceeding directly to surgery without a prior biopsy can indicate a higher level of concern based on imaging results.

While most lung nodules are benign, the procedure will allow doctors to examine the tissue under a microscope to determine its nature. Advances in surgical techniques mean the operation is likely minimally invasive, allowing patients to begin walking within a day or two. However, given the pope’s age, his recovery may be slower than that of a younger, otherwise healthy individual.

The pontiff has a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru scheduled for November. Doctors indicated that if the surgery is uncomplicated and the nodule is not cancerous, he could potentially travel as planned; otherwise, the itinerary may need to be adjusted.