Pope Leo XIV arrived at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome on Tuesday for surgery to remove a small nodule from his lung.
The 71-year-old pope said Monday that doctors had detected the nodule at a “very early stage” and advised removing it. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the operation was expected to be brief, with Leo likely to remain at the hospital for about a week.
“Doctors found a small lump in the lung,” Leo said after leading the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Monday. “It was identified at a very early stage and well situated.”
TOPSHOT – Pope Leo XIV is welcomed by Health Director Andrea Cambieri as he arrives at the Gemelli University Hospital for an operation to remove a lump from his lung, in Rome on October 13, 2026. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images)
“The doctors consider it appropriate to intervene and so, following their advice, I decided to have surgery to remove it,” he said. “The surgery is already scheduled for the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and I rely on your prayer.”
The procedure was expected to take place within days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, an institution widely known as the “Pope’s” hospital, Vatican sources told Fox News.
The Vatican has not said whether the lung nodule is cancerous. Officials also have not released additional information about Leo’s diagnosis or the specific surgery planned.
Pope Leo XIV steps out as the first American Pope in history at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Vatican Media)
The health announcement came unexpectedly for the American-born pontiff, who had no publicly known medical problems and has maintained an active routine.
According to The Associated Press, Leo regularly plays tennis and swims at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
Leo is also scheduled for a major international journey from Nov. 6 through Nov. 17, including visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is not yet known whether the operation or his recovery will alter those plans.
Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Alongside his health announcement, Leo used his Sunday remarks to renew his call for peace in war-torn Ukraine, saying the conflict continues to cause hardship well beyond the country’s borders.
“The war in the martyred Ukraine continues to create suffering, even beyond its borders, especially in the poorest countries, where many people depend on the exports of cereals and grains,” the pope said.