BREAKING: Pope Leo announces surgery to remove tumor
Pope Leo XIV said he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule found during a recent medical examination. His planned November trip to South America remains on the schedule.
Pope Leo XIV told thousands of worshippers gathered in St. Peter’s Square after his traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday that he will have surgery to remove a small lung nodule.
The 71-year-old pope said doctors detected the nodule at a “very early stage” and advised that it be removed. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the procedure is expected to take place within the next few days, followed by an estimated weeklong hospital stay.
“Doctors found a small lump in the lung,” Leo said after leading the Angelus. “It was identified at a very early stage and well situated.”
Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
“The doctors consider it appropriate to intervene and so, following their advice, I decided to have surgery to remove it,” he said. “The surgery is already scheduled for the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and I rely on your prayer.”
The procedure is expected to be performed within days at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, widely known as the “Pope’s hospital,” according to Vatican sources who spoke to Fox News.
The Vatican has not said whether the lung nodule is cancerous. Officials also have not released additional information about the pope’s diagnosis or the planned operation.
Pope Leo XIV attends the Welcome Ceremony at Paris Orly International Airport on Sept. 25, 2026, in Paris, France. (Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
The health announcement came as a surprise because the American-born pontiff has no previously known medical problems and is known for keeping an active lifestyle.
According to The Associated Press, Leo regularly plays tennis and swims at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
The pope is due to make a major international journey from Nov. 6 to 17, visiting Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It remains uncertain whether the surgery and his recovery will alter those plans.
During his Sunday remarks, Leo also renewed his call for peace in war-torn Ukraine, warning that the conflict is causing hardship well beyond the country’s borders.
“The war in the martyred Ukraine continues to create suffering, even beyond its borders, especially in the poorest countries, where many people depend on the exports of cereals and grains,” the pope said.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass during the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter’s Square, attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, on May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Leo urged all parties involved in the conflict to protect the movement of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, stressing the impact on vulnerable communities around the world.
“I send a strong appeal for all those involved that they can guarantee the safe transport of grains in the Black Sea,” he said. “The daily life of many people cannot be hostage to war.”
