Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery in the coming days after doctors discovered a localized nodule in his lung during recent medical examinations. The 71-year-old pontiff shared the news while addressing people gathered for his Sunday prayers in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

According to a statement released by the Vatican, the lung nodule was detected at an early stage and is well localized. After consulting with his medical team, Leo said doctors recommended surgery to remove it, and he decided to follow their advice.

The procedure is scheduled to take place at Gemelli Hospital in Rome in the coming days. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said the operation was planned for the first days of the week, with an estimated recovery period of approximately one week after surgery.

In announcing the news, the pope thanked those offering him support and asked for their prayers as he prepared for the procedure. His remarks provided an update on the medical discovery while confirming that doctors considered surgical removal the appropriate next step.

A lung nodule is a small area of abnormal tissue in the lung. According to the Mayo Clinic, many lung nodules are associated with scar tissue from previous infections, and they often cause no symptoms. They may be discovered incidentally during imaging tests performed for other reasons.

The discovery of a lung nodule does not, by itself, establish a cancer diagnosis. The Vatican’s announcement described the finding as localized and detected at an early stage but did not identify the nodule’s cause or provide a specific diagnosis.

Further details about the pope’s condition and the outcome of the procedure had not been provided in the announcement.

Source: Compiled from various sources.