Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery for Lung Nodule

Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery after a nodule was discovered on his lung during a medical check-up. The Pope stated, "The doctors found an early, well-localised nodule on my lung," during his weekly Sunday prayers in St Peter's Square in Rome. At 71 years old, he mentioned that his medical team believes it is appropriate to proceed with the operation, which he has agreed to, while reassuring pilgrims that the mass is "well-contained" and detected "at an early stage." This announcement comes nearly a year and a half after he succeeded the late Pope Francis, who also faced lung issues requiring hospital treatment. Holy See Press Office spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the operation is scheduled for the first days of next week and that the Pope is expected to take about a week to recover. The surgery will take place at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, which has a special Papal suite established after the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in May 1981. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella expressed their support for the Pope, wishing him a peaceful recovery. Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, also extended his wishes for a full recovery. The Pope, born Robert Francis Prevost, is the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter and the first US citizen to hold this position. He confirmed that his upcoming visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November will proceed as planned. The Archbishop of Montevideo, Daniel Sturla, stated that preparations for the tour will continue with "greater enthusiasm" and called for prayers for the Pope's recovery. A lung nodule is typically a small lump of tissue detected through X-ray or CT scan, and most do not cause additional symptoms.