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Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful procedure at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome to remove a small node on his lung on Tuesday, the Vatican said.
The 71-year-old pontiff said Monday that doctors discovered the nodule at a “very early stage” and recommended its removal. The surgery went as planned and on schedule, and the pope is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week, according to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.
“Doctors found a small lump in the lung,” Leo said after an Angelus address at St. Peter’s Square on Monday. “It was identified at a very early stage and well situated.”
POPE LEO ANNOUNCES TUMOR ON LUNG, SURGERY PLANNED IN ‘NEXT FEW DAYS’
Pope Leo XIV is welcomed by Health Director Andrea Cambieri as he arrives at the Gemelli University Hospital for an operation to remove a lump from his lung in Rome on October 13, 2026. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
“The doctors consider it appropriate to intervene and so, following their advice, I decided to have surgery to remove it,” he continued. “The surgery is already scheduled for the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and I rely on your prayer.”
The surgery is likely to take place within a few days at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, which is known as the “Pope’s” hospital, Vatican sources told Fox News.
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The Vatican has not disclosed whether the nodule is cancerous, and no further details about the pope’s diagnosis or the planned procedure were immediately available.
Pope Leo XIV steps out as the first American pope in history at the Vatican on Thursday, May 8, 2025. (Vatican Media)
The announcement comes as a surprise for the American-born pontiff, who has no previously known health problems and is known for maintaining an active lifestyle.
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Leo regularly plays tennis and swims at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, according to The Associated Press.
The pope is also scheduled to embark on a major international trip from Nov. 6–17, with planned stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It remains unclear whether his surgery and recovery will affect those travel plans.
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Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
In addition to addressing his health, Leo used his Sunday remarks to renew his appeal for peace in war-torn Ukraine, warning that the conflict continues to inflict suffering far beyond the country’s borders.
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“The war in the martyred Ukraine continues to create suffering, even beyond its borders, especially in the poorest countries, where many people depend on the exports of cereals and grains,” the pope said.
Fox News’ Courtney Walsh and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.