Pope Leo XIV has taken to social media to announce that he will undergo surgery to remove a “small, localised nodule” in his lung.
The 71-year-old leader of the world’s largest church made the disclosure to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square after his customary prayer on Sunday, October 11, saying doctors found the lung nodule “at a very early stage and is well-localised.”
A lung nodule is a small abnormal area of less than an inch that appears in the chest or abdomen during a CT scan, according to the American Cancer Society. It states that most lung nodules are not cancer and are “more often the result of old infections, scar tissue, or other causes.”
The pope’s operation will take place early this coming week at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where the popes typically receive medical care, and he is expected to remain in recovery for a week, the Vatican later told reporters.
Speaking, he said: “Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localised nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localised.
“The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers.”
