Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Lung Nodule Surgery on Tuesday

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to be admitted to a hospital on Tuesday morning for surgery to remove a lung nodule identified during recent medical examinations, the Vatican said on Monday. The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed the finding during his Sunday noon prayer and said he was following doctors’ advice to have the nodule removed "in the coming days." The Vatican expects a recovery period of about a week.

The Vatican press office clarified that no specific health issue triggered the tests, countering reports that an inflammation had prompted the check-up. On Monday, Leo conducted a full schedule of meetings, including six private audiences—among them one with Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the U.S. military chaplains—and a group audience, as well as three appointments and a letter to the outgoing dean of the College of Cardinals. He was also slated to rejoin a weeklong conference on ministering to families later that day.

The surgery represents the first major health event of Leo’s 17-month pontificate. A lung nodule, defined as a small abnormal area less than three centimeters in size, can be benign or malignant. Oncologists note that if the nodule proves cancerous, early removal offers an excellent prognosis.