On October 11, 2026, Pope Leo XIV made a personal statement that drew immediate attention from Catholics and observers worldwide. The 71‑year‑old pontiff said he would be operated on in the coming days to have a lung nodule removed. He framed the news as a medical decision taken after consulting his physicians, emphasizing that the intervention was advised by the doctors who had examined him.
The pontiff explained that the nodule had been detected during recent medical examinations and was described as "circumscribed" and "well‑localized." He added that the lesion was found at a "very early stage," a detail he highlighted to reassure the faithful about the timing of the discovery.
Quoting his conversation with the medical team, the Pope said, "The doctors deem it appropriate to intervene and, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to have it removed."
The same Vatican source noted that the Pope’s hospitalization should last about one week.
A Vatican spokesperson confirmed that the procedure is scheduled for early next week at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
The same Vatican source noted that the Pope’s hospitalization should last about one week.
He stated that he would follow the doctors’ guidance.