Pope Leo to have surgery after lump found on lung

What the report says

Pope Leo XIV has said he will undergo surgery in the coming days after doctors discovered a lump on his lung during a medical check-up. The BBC reported that the 71-year-old pontiff made the announcement during his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square in Rome, describing the nodule as early, well-localised and caught at a very early stage.

According to the article, Leo said his medical team believed the operation was the right course and that he had agreed to it. He also told pilgrims the mass was well-contained and thanked them for their spiritual closeness as he asked for their prayers. The Holy See Press Office, through spokesperson Matteo Bruni, said the procedure was planned for the first days of the following week and that the Pope was expected to need about a week to recover.

The development comes as Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, continues his papacy after succeeding Pope Francis in 2025. He is the first American pope and the 267th holder of the office. More broadly, any surgery involving the head of the Catholic Church can draw global attention because of the pope’s religious role and public schedule, though the BBC’s report focused on the medical update and short recovery outlook.