Pope Leo XIV To Undergo Surgery for Lung Nodule

In a public prayer gathering in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, Pope Leo XIV announced that “an early, well-localised nodule” was found in his lung. He further explained his medical team’s recommendations for a surgical intervention, reassuring the public of his nodule’s early stage. The surgery will be done at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, according to Vatican News, the same place where previous popes were treated.

A lung nodule is a small mass (<30 mm) in the lungs, usually found after an X-ray or CT scan. These are usually benign, with less than 5% of detected nodules considered cancerous. Nodules can be caused by environmental irritation or infections, with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis also causing the appearance of these nodules.

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Though nodules are often benign, risk factors for lung cancer can lead to doctors recommending a surgery or a biopsy. These include old age, larger nodules, and smoking. During the operation, the nodules can be inspected, and if they are found to be cancerous, the affected areas can be removed immediately. The surgery would therefore provide both a definite diagnosis, as well as an opportunity to treat a potential cancer at an early stage, before it has opportunity to spread.

Pope Leo XIV was elected the 267th pope in May 2025, after Pope Francis passed away from a stroke following a respiratory crisis. Born as Robert Francis Prevost, he was ordained in 1982, after which he became a missionary in Peru and eventually became a bishop. Pope Leo XIV is the first US citizen to be appointed to head the Catholic church.

This surgery is the 71-year-old pope’s first major health event during his 17-month papacy. Pope Leo XIV has had no other health problems and is reported to lead an active lifestyle, with weekly tennis and swimming sessions.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to make an 11-day trip to Argentina, Peru, and Uruguay in November. He has claimed that he will still make the trip, if able. Doctors suggest that he should be able to proceed if there are no findings, and the surgery remains minimally invasive.

While the news was announced quietly, especially emphasizing the early stage of the nodule, it coincided with the election of the new dean of the College of Cardinals. Pope Leo XIV recently appointed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines to this role, which is responsible for organizing the election of a new pope, when needed.