Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery for lung nodule soon
The Pope says the abnormality was detected early and is clearly defined, but further medical details are unavailable.
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
.jpg){kind=link}
Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he will soon undergo surgery for a nodule in his lung. According to the Pope, the abnormality was detected at an early stage; nothing has yet been established about its nature.
Leo XIV announced the news during his Sunday blessing from the Vatican. He said doctors had found a localised abnormality in his lung during medical checks and that the operation was scheduled for the coming days.
The press service of the Holy See subsequently provided additional information, according to reports. The procedure was expected to take place at the start of the coming week and the anticipated hospital stay would last about a week. Details about the hospital, the precise procedure and the medical practitioners treating him have not been made public.
The Pope said the abnormality had been detected early and was clearly defined. These are descriptions of the finding, not a diagnosis. The public announcement does not establish whether the nodule is benign or malignant; further investigation may be needed to determine that.
The health of the 71-year-old Pope is receiving extra attention because, as head of the Catholic Church, Leo XIV has an international public role. The day-to-day running of the Vatican can continue through the existing church structures during his hospital stay, but it is not yet known which arrangements will be temporarily adjusted.
Leo XIV has a trip planned to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November. Associated Press writes that it is still unclear whether the operation and recovery will affect the trip. No decision on this has been announced.
For now, it is chiefly established that an operation has been announced and that medical information remains limited. New statements from the Vatican or the hospital will have to show how the procedure went and whether the Pope's schedule changes.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
Reports confirm the announced operation and the early discovery of the abnormality. The text remains cautious about the diagnosis, prognosis and consequences for the schedule.
- confirmed Pope Leo XIV will soon undergo surgery for a nodule in his lung. — The Pope announced this himself; AP and EL PAÍS reported on it. source
- confirmed According to the Pope, the abnormality was detected early and is clearly defined. — This is the description that AP and EL PAÍS attributed to the Pope. source
- confirmed The anticipated hospital stay will last about a week. — EL PAÍS reported this based on a statement by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. source
- confirmed The Pope has a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru planned for November. — AP mentioned the planned trip from 6 to 17 November. source
Editor's note
The announcement of the operation and the limited information from the Vatican have been confirmed. The text draws no conclusion about the diagnosis or prognosis.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „paus leo xiv”
- AD — „paus leo xiv”
- de Volkskrant — „paus leo xiv”