Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery for Lung Nodule
Pope Leo XIV will soon undergo surgery to remove an early-stage nodule discovered in his lung during routine health checks.
During his Sunday prayer in St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV announced that, upon medical advice, he will undergo a surgical operation in the coming days to remove an early-stage and well-localized nodule in his lung.
Surgery Decision Announced
Pope Leo XIV announced during the Sunday prayer that an early-stage nodule was found in his lung during health checks and that he would be operated on for this reason.
Officials reported that the 71-year-old leader approved this operation following his doctors' advice and that the process has begun.
Statements from the Vatican
Vatican Press Office spokesperson Matteo Bruni stated that the operation is planned for the early days of the week and that the Pope is expected to recover in about a week.
It was also shared that the surgery will be performed at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
International Support Messages
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog conveyed their support to the Pope in messages they published.
The leaders sent their best wishes to Pope Leo XIV and expressed hope for his speedy recovery.
Status of the November Trip
While the Pope is planned to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November, there are differing assessments regarding how this schedule will be affected by the operation.
Some sources state that the trip will continue as planned, while others point out that the recovery process creates uncertainty in the travel calendar.