Pope Leo XIV health update: Will Pope Leo XIV's surgery impact his upcoming Latin America trip in November?

Pope Leo XIV has said he will have surgery to remove a nodule in his lung. The nodule was found during medical exams. The 71-year-old pope made the announcement to people in St. Peter’s Square during the Angelus prayer on Sunday. The Vatican said the surgery will take place at the beginning of the week. It will be done at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome. Doctors expect Pope Leo to recover in one week, as per a report by CNN and the Vatican News.

The news comes as Pope Leo continues his schedule. He is preparing for a trip to Latin America, in November.

What has Pope Leo said about his lung surgery

Pope Leo told the faithful that doctors found a small, localized nodule during recent examinations. He said it was detected early and that his medical team recommended removing it.

In his announcement, the pope said, “Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers. Thank you, and happy Sunday!”



The Vatican has not provided further details about the nodule in the information released. A lung nodule is a small area of dense tissue in the lung, and most are non-cancerous. The risks can vary depending on factors such as age.

According to Vatican News, the operation will take place at the Gemelli hospital in Rome. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told journalists that the procedure was planned for early in the week and that recovery would take about seven days.

How will the operation affect the pope’s duties

The Vatican is expected to continue operating as usual while Pope Leo recovers. However, decisions that require his signature will be put on hold during his absence. Pope Leo is generally seen as being in good health. He plays tennis and remains physically active. His upcoming schedule includes a major visit to Latin America from November 6 to 17 with planned stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

Health concerns have affected previous popes, too. His predecessor, Pope Francis, spent an extended period in hospital and experienced several health problems in the final months of his life. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her support to Leo “as he faces this challenge in the coming days.”

The Vatican has said the pope will undergo the procedure on his doctors’ advice and is expected to need about a week to recover. He has thanked people for their support and asked for their prayers as he prepares for surgery.