Pope Leo has disclosed that doctors discovered a small growth on his lung during a recent check-up and that he will undergo surgery later this week to remove it, marking the first health scare of his tenure at age 71.
Addressing pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square for his weekly Sunday prayer, Leo said the growth was “well-contained” and caught early.
“Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a localised nodule in my lung,” said the pontiff. “It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained.”
He told the crowd that physicians had recommended an operation and that he had agreed to proceed. “The doctors believe it is advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” he said. “The operation is already scheduled for the next few days.”
A nodule on the lung is a small, localised lesion that can be benign.
The American Thoracic Society says fewer than 5% of lung nodules overall prove cancerous, although risk rises with age, size, and other factors.
Leo, elected pope by the world’s cardinals in May 2025, is relatively young for a Church leader. He enjoys sports, including tennis, and is not known to previously have had health issues.
The late Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, died at age 88 and was increasingly frail in his later years.
The Vatican press office said Leo’s recovery from surgery was expected to take about a week. It did not immediately provide further details about the pope’s health.
Even so, the pontiff has maintained a packed calendar and is scheduled to embark on an 11-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6-17 November.
Before turning to his health in Sunday’s address, Leo referenced the upcoming journey, offering thanks to Catholics for their prayers “for the pastoral visit I will undertake.”
