Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that doctors had found a small nodule in his lung during a routine check‑up, and he has decided to remove it within the next few days.
The procedure will take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, a facility that has treated several popes and even houses a dedicated apartment for the pontiff.
During the Sunday blessing, Leo thanked believers for their prayers and said, “I trust in your spiritual support while I undergo this surgery.”
The 71‑year‑old pontiff, who keeps up a weekly tennis routine and swims at Castel Gandolfo, has no other known health issues.
His November itinerary—Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from the 6th to the 17th—remains unchanged, though the Vatican has said a week‑long recovery will precede the journey.
The next week will see the pope in the hospital, followed by a brief convalescence before he departs for his South American tour.