On Sunday, 13 August 2023, Pope Leo XIV appeared at the Angelus and told the faithful that doctors had found a lung nodule. He said the growth was detected in a very early and well‑localized phase, and that, following medical advice, he had decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The Pope thanked the faithful for their spiritual closeness and asked for their prayers.
The Holy See confirmed that the surgery will take place this Tuesday at the Gemelli Policlinic in Rome. The Pope said the procedure is already scheduled for the coming days. While the Vatican has not disclosed the exact nature of the nodule, experts note that surgical removal often suggests a malignancy, although the Holy See has not confirmed any cancer diagnosis.
A lung nodule is a small, roundish abnormality in the lung tissue that can be spotted on imaging scans. When described as "localized" and "early‑stage," it usually means the lesion is confined to a limited area and has not spread widely. Determining whether such a nodule is benign or malignant requires pathological examination of the removed tissue.
After the operation, analysis of the tumor will take ten days to two weeks to establish its type and guide any further treatment.
The Vatican indicated that the expected hospital stay will be about one week. After the operation, analysis of the tumor will take ten days to two weeks to establish its type and guide any further treatment. Doctors have advised that air travel should be avoided for roughly three weeks following the procedure to allow proper healing.
The surgery is being timed so that the Pope can recover before a pre‑planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, which is set to begin on 6 November.
Although the Pope’s statement emphasized the early detection and the doctors’ recommendation to intervene, the Vatican has refrained from labeling the nodule as cancerous. The forthcoming pathology report, expected within the next ten days to two weeks, will clarify whether additional therapy is needed. Until then, the Holy See maintains a neutral stance on the medical implications.
As the faithful await the outcome of Tuesday’s surgery, the Pope’s message continues to be one of trust in medical counsel and reliance on prayer. The coming weeks will bring clarity about the nodule’s nature, while the Pontiff’s schedule remains oriented toward the November trip to South America, provided his recovery proceeds as anticipated.