Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule detected at an early stage.
“During recent medical checks, a nodule on my lung was found. It has been detected at a very early stage and is very localised,” the 71-year-old pontiff said during his weekly Angelus address in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.
“The doctors believe it would be right to intervene and so, following their advice, I have decided to have the operation to remove it. The operation is already planned in the coming days,” he said.
Following the announcement, the Vatican press office said the pope was expected to need about a week to recover from the procedure.
Born in Chicago, Leo became the first American pope when he was elected leader of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, following the death of his Argentine predecessor, Pope Francis, on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
Francis spent several weeks at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where popes traditionally receive medical treatment.
Since his election, Leo, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, has gradually established his own leadership style. Although less ebullient than his predecessor, he has increasingly asserted his voice on major global issues, including armed conflicts and the implications of artificial intelligence.
Pope emerges as vocal critic of Iran war
Following the launch of US and Israeli military operations against Iran in February, Leo became a prominent critic of the conflict.
He condemned US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran as “truly unacceptable” and urged Americans to press their lawmakers to “work for peace”.
Trump subsequently attacked the pontiff, describing him as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy”.
Leo responded by insisting that he had a “moral duty to speak out”.
The pope’s planned surgery comes as he continues to navigate the demands of leading the world’s estimated 1.4 billion Catholics while addressing major international crises.
AFP
