# Pope Leo XIV to have lung surgery this week

> Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday he will undergo surgery to remove a nodule found in his lung at a very early stage.
- Title: Pope Leo XIV to have lung surgery this week · NPR | Shortify
- Summary: Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday he will undergo surgery to remove a nodule found in his lung at a very early stage. Pope Leo XIV will have surgery this week at…
- Keywords: pope leo xiv, vatican, lung surgery, gemelli hospital, rome, health, news, Pope, Leo, XIV, lung, surgery
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/10/11/nx-s1-5998027/pope-leo-xiv-to-undergo-lung-surgery-this-week
- Published: 2026-10-11T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pope leo xiv, vatican, lung surgery, gemelli hospital, rome, health, news
## Pope announces lung surgery
Pope Leo XIV said Sunday he will have surgery this week to remove a localized nodule found in his lung at a very early stage.

> Following their advice, I have therefore decided to undergo an operation to remove it.
## What is a lung nodule
A lung nodule is a small abnormal area of three centimetres or less found during a CT scan. Most are benign, often from old infections or scar tissue.
## Surgery at Gemelli Hospital
The surgery is scheduled for the first days of this week at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, the primary location where popes receive medical attention. Recovery is estimated at about one week.
## Unclear impact on November trip
Pope Leo XIV's next major international trip is scheduled for early November to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It remains unclear whether the surgery will affect his travels.
## Key takeaway

Pope Leo XIV will have surgery this week at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove a localized lung nodule discovered at an early stage, with recovery expected to take about one week.