Pope Leo XIV is due to have surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule that doctors found during recent check-ups. He announced it himself on Sunday 11 October 2026, from the window of the Apostolic Palace during the Angelus prayer. The Vatican said the operation was scheduled for early that week at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, with a postoperative hospital stay of about one week.
This explainer sets out what the Pope said, what the Vatican has confirmed about the procedure, and what has not been made public. It also covers the travel plans that could be affected. Where a detail has not been stated by the Vatican or the news agencies, this article says so rather than filling the gap.
What the Pope said
Leo told the crowd in St. Peter’s Square: “Recently during some check-ups doctors found a circumscribed nodule in my lung.” He added that it “was found in a very initial phase and well localised” and that “the doctors think it is opportune to intervene.” He said he had therefore decided to have the operation, and asked for the faithful’s prayers.
The 71-year-old pontiff did not describe the nodule in more detail than its early stage and its location. Associated Press, ABC News and the Guardian all reported his wording the same day.
What the Vatican has confirmed
The Vatican press office issued a statement shortly after the Angelus. It said the procedure was scheduled for “early” in the week, and that the “expected length of the postoperative hospital stay is about one week.”
The operation is planned for Gemelli Hospital in Rome, the main medical facility that popes commonly use. Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, also relied on Gemelli before he died in 2025 at the age of 88.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she and her government were expressing solidarity “with the Holy Father as he faces the ordeal ahead in the coming days.” She said the serenity with which he spoke “are a source of comfort to us.”
Who Pope Leo XIV is
Leo was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago and is the first American pope. He was elected in May 2025 as the Church’s 267th pontiff, after serving as a missionary and bishop in Peru and as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome. He is also the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine.
Before this announcement, the Vatican had not reported any major health event during his pontificate. The AP described the surgery as the first major health event of his 17-month papacy.
What a lung nodule means, and what is not known
A lung nodule is a small spot in the lung tissue. Many nodules found on scans are benign, and many are found by chance during scans taken for other reasons. Doctors judge them by size, shape, change over time and the patient’s history, and confirm them through testing.
The statements so far describe the nodule as early-stage, well localised, and something doctors have decided to remove by surgery. No official statement has given the nodule’s type or the results of any biopsy. Some outlets have described it as a “lump” or “growth,” but those are simplifications of the same statements. Any claim about the diagnosis that goes beyond the Vatican’s wording should be treated as unconfirmed.
The travel schedule
The Holy See has scheduled a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between 6 and 17 November, covering Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Lima and Chiclayo, among other cities. Leo’s remarks on Sunday appeared to show he still intends to go. He also thanked a Peruvian group during the Angelus for their prayers for the visit to Peru.
A one-week hospital stay would leave a few weeks before the trip begins. No change to the itinerary had been announced when this article was written. Whether the schedule changes will depend on his recovery and the advice of his medical team.
What to watch next
- Confirmation of the surgery: an official Vatican statement that the operation has taken place and how it went.
- The hospital stay: the Vatican said about one week, so an update around that point would be expected.
- The November trip: whether the journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru goes ahead as planned.
- Any further medical detail: whether the Vatican releases a diagnosis, and what follow-up care is planned.
For more articles on health topics, see our health article hub.
Frequently asked questions
What surgery is the Pope having?
The Vatican has said Pope Leo XIV will have surgery to remove a lung nodule. The statements so far do not describe the operation’s technique or the nodule’s type, so those details are not yet public.
Where is the Pope having the operation?
The surgery is scheduled for Gemelli Hospital in Rome, the hospital that popes commonly use, including Pope Francis.
How long will the Pope stay in hospital?
The Vatican said the expected postoperative hospital stay is about one week.
Is the Pope still going on his trip to South America?
The Holy See has scheduled a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November. His remarks on Sunday appeared to indicate he still intends to travel. No change had been announced when this article was written.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Leo XIV was born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, is the first American pope, and was elected in May 2025 as the Church’s 267th pontiff.
More news this week: Hurricane Isaias: landfall, deaths and power outages explained and Trump Russia diesel deal and energy ceasefire: what we know.
Sources
- ABC News, “Pope Leo to undergo surgery after nodule discovered on his lung, he says,” 11 October 2026: abcnews.com
- The Guardian, “Pope Leo to have surgery to remove nodule on his lung,” 11 October 2026: theguardian.com
- Associated Press via PBS NewsHour, “Pope Leo to undergo surgery to remove nodule on his lung”: pbs.org
- NPR via Texas Public Radio, “Pope Leo XIV to undergo lung surgery this week,” 11 October 2026: tpr.org
- The Holy See (Vatican), official site: vatican.va
This article summarises statements from the Vatican and reports by the Associated Press, ABC News, the Guardian and NPR, current as of 12 October 2026. The Vatican has not published the nodule’s diagnosis, and no detail beyond its early stage and location has been confirmed. Check the Holy See press office and established news organisations for updates.
