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Pope Leo XIV announced this Sunday that he will undergo surgery "in the coming days" to remove a nodule "located in the lung" that was detected at an early stage.
"Recently, during some check-ups, doctors detected a nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well localized," said the 71-year-old pope at the end of the Angelus prayer.
"The doctors consider it appropriate to intervene, and therefore, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it," he added in St. Peter's Square.
"The surgery is already scheduled for the coming days," said the spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, weeks before a tour of Latin America.
The Vatican press office specified that the pope will need approximately one week to recover from the surgery.
They have not specified whether the procedure will affect the international agenda of the American pope, who is scheduled to travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17.
The Archbishop of Montevideo, Daniel Sturla, asked the faithful to pray "for his speedy recovery" and to continue "with even greater spirit the preparation for his visit".
The Argentine Episcopal Conference also urged Catholics to pray for Leo XIV before the surgery and wished him "a favorable operation and a speedy and full recovery".
"Our deepest feelings of affection and solidarity to His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, in light of this health situation, which we hope he can overcome fully and successfully," wrote the President of Peru, Keiko Fujimori, on X.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also wished him a "successful surgery and a quick and full recovery" on X. "We hope for a speedy return to health and strength," he added.
- "Thank you for your prayers" -
Before announcing the operation, Leo XIV greeted members of the Brotherhood of the Lord of the Miracles of Rome, one of the most important Peruvian Catholic associations, at the end of the Angelus prayer.
"Thank you for your prayers regarding the pastoral visit I will make to Peru," the pope declared, implying that the trip is still on.
Robert Prevost was born in Chicago but spent more than 20 years in Peru, a country of which he also holds citizenship.
In May 2025, he became the first American pope following the death of his Argentine predecessor, Francis, on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
Francis spent several weeks at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where popes traditionally go for medical treatment.
More discreet than his predecessor, Robert Francis Prevost has established himself as a leader with his own style. He raises his voice in favor of migrants and against wars, and has warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence.
After the United States and Israel launched a joint attack against Iran in February, the pope has repeatedly criticized this conflict.
He condemned the threat by U.S. President Donald Trump to destroy the Islamic republic.
Trump lashed out at the pontiff, calling him "weak on crime and terrible at foreign policy," to which Leo XIV responded by saying he had a "moral duty to speak out."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni immediately came to his defense and, this Sunday, expressed her "personal solidarity, as well as that of the Italian Government, in the face of the trial he will face in the coming days."
"The serenity and calmness with which he spoke about it during today's Angelus reassures us," Meloni added in a statement.
This is the first health scare for Pope Leo XIV after sixteen months at a dizzying pace, even though he tries to maintain a balance with his private life.
He is a fan of tennis and swimming, and dedicates Tuesdays—his weekly day of rest at Castel Gandolfo—to sports, private calls, and reading.
[Publicidad]