Pope Leo told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that a recent health check detected a localized nodule in his lung at a very early stage and that, on his doctors’ advice, he will undergo surgery to remove it in the next few days. The pontiff described the growth as well-contained; the Vatican press office said his recovery was expected to take about a week.
Pope Leo announces lung surgery in coming days
Pope Leo, 71, announced Sunday that doctors found a localized lung nodule at an early stage and that he will undergo surgery to remove it in the next few days, with the Vatican saying recovery should take about a week.
Why it matters: An operation on a sitting pontiff, however routine, puts the Vatican's communications and the papal calendar under scrutiny this week.
Data as of Sunday, October 11, 2026: Arab News article opened and read in full. Multiple outlets (Politico, Axios, BBC, Fox News, France24) report the same announcement from the pope's Sunday address.
Sources
- Pope Leo says will undergo surgery for small growth on lung · Arab News (via AP) · 2026-10-11