The 71-year-old pontiff made the announcement on Sunday, October 11, 2026, while addressing a crowd of worshippers gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican during the Angelus prayer.
He explained that the nodule was discovered during routine medical examinations and that doctors had advised him to undergo surgery to have it removed.
“During my medical examinations, doctors discovered a small nodule in one part of my lung,” he said.
He added: “It was detected very early, and its location is clearly identified. The doctors determined that it would be best to remove it, which is why, following their advice, I decided to undergo surgery.”
A lung nodule is a small area of abnormal tissue in the lung. Such nodules are often non-cancerous, although doctors may recommend further examinations or removal to determine their nature and prevent potential complications.
Pope Leo XIV said the procedure was scheduled to take place within the coming days.
A Vatican spokesperson explained that the surgery was expected to take place early next week, after which the Pope would remain in hospital for approximately one week to recover.
Despite the planned procedure, Pope Leo XIV is generally regarded as being in good health and is relatively young compared with many previous leaders of the Catholic Church.
He is known for his interest in sports, particularly tennis, and regularly engages in physical exercise to maintain his health.
The Pope maintains a busy daily schedule that includes receiving visitors, holding meetings with various leaders and participating in Church activities.
The planned surgery comes as Pope Leo XIV prepares for a major visit to South America scheduled for November 6–17, 2026.
During the trip, he is expected to visit three countries: Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
The Vatican has not announced any postponement or change to the dates of the visit in connection with the planned surgery.
Although doctors reportedly detected the lung nodule at an early stage, no further details have been released about its cause or whether it is associated with any serious underlying condition.
