Pope Leo said on Sunday that doctors had found a small growth on his lung during a recent health check and that he would undergo surgery this week to remove it, Reuters reported, in the first health scare of the 71-year-old pontiff's papacy. Speaking to pilgrims in St Peter's Square at his weekly Sunday prayer, the pope said the nodule had been found during recent medical examinations and that doctors had advised removing it. "It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained," he said, adding that the operation was already scheduled for the next few days. The Vatican did not say whether the nodule is believed to be malignant.
Often benign
A lung nodule is a small, localised lesion that can be benign. According to the American Thoracic Society, fewer than 5% of lung nodules prove cancerous, although the risk rises with age, size and other factors such as smoking, Reuters reported. "Lung nodules are fairly common and are often benign," said Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown University in Washington and division chief of haematology-oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He told Reuters that, where there is sufficient concern and it is safe to operate, surgical removal can provide a definitive diagnosis.
Leo, who was elected pope in May 2025, is relatively young for a Church leader. He enjoys sports, including tennis, and is not known to be a smoker or to have had previous health problems. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wished him well, offering her personal support and that of the Italian government, and said the calm and composure with which he had spoken about his condition were reassuring. His predecessor, Pope Francis, who died aged 88, was hospitalised several times as he grew frail in his later years and did not usually announce hospital visits in advance, at times sparking intense media speculation about his health.
The Vatican press office said Leo's recovery is expected to take about a week, without immediately providing further details. The pope keeps a busy schedule and is due to make an 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6–17 November. Before mentioning his health in Sunday's address, he referred to the trip and thanked Catholics for their prayers for the pastoral visit.
Source: Reuters
