Pope Leo XIV Announces Health Scare During Sunday Service

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo surgery this week to remove a lump in his lung. “Recently, during some medical tests, doctors discovered a localized nodule in my lung,” the pontiff said in Italian during his customary noon Angelus prayer delivery at St. Peter’s Square. "It was found in a very initial phase and well localized. The doctors think it is opportune to intervene."

Speaking from the window of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo added “The surgery is already scheduled for the coming days. Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers.”

In a statement, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, announced that solidarity "with the Holy Father as he faces the ordeal ahead in the coming days."

"The serenity and calm with which he spoke about it during today's Angelus are a source of comfort to us," Meloni's statement, which was issued in Italian, continued. “I am certain that the Italian people, too, will not fail to offer their support and affection.”

The 71-year-old pope, who was born Robert Francis Prevost, has no known health problems and has remained active since he was elected last year. A native of the Chicago area, he's known for his weekly games of tennis and fondness for Wordle and Words With Friends.

According to the American Cancer Society, “A lung nodule is a small (≤ 3 cm) abnormal area that is sometimes found during a CT scan of the chest and/or abdomen.”

“Most lung nodules seen on CT scans are not cancer,” the ACS continues. “They are more often the result of old infections, scar tissue, or other causes. But tests are often needed to be sure a nodule is not cancer.”