On 11 October 2026, Pope Leo XIV appeared before the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus prayer. During the Angelus, he said that doctors had identified a spot in his lung and advised that it be removed. He expressed his gratitude for the spiritual closeness of the believers and asked them to keep him in their prayers.
He explained that the nodule had been discovered during routine check‑ups, in a very early stage and well localized. He also noted that the lesion was circumscribed.
The Pope said he would follow the doctors’ recommendation and undergo surgery to remove the nodule in the coming days.
This medical development comes ahead of a scheduled two‑week trip to South America, specifically to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, set for the following month.
Before the announcement, Pope Leo XIV had maintained a healthy lifestyle through playing tennis and swimming regularly.
This medical development comes ahead of a scheduled two‑week trip to South America, specifically to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, set for the following month.
Pope Leo XIV leads the worldwide Catholic community, which numbers 1.4 billion believers.
A photograph of the pope taken on 7 October 2026 shows him in St. Peter's Square, a few days before his Angelus announcement on the 11th.
The news article detailing the pope’s announcement was published on 11 October 2026, the same day as his Angelus address.