Pope Leo to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule in Rome

What the report says

Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery in Rome to remove a lung nodule, according to an announcement from the Vatican reported by Al Jazeera on October 12, 2026. The 71-year-old head of the Catholic Church is due to be admitted to Gemelli Hospital late Tuesday morning, and officials said they expect about a week of inpatient recovery.

The Vatican said the procedure has led to the cancellation of papal audiences through October 20. In remarks during his Sunday blessing in St Peter’s Square, Leo said the growth was found during a routine checkup on his left lung and described it as having been caught early. He also said he was following doctors’ advice in choosing surgery. The Vatican did not say whether the nodule is suspected to be cancerous.

The report said Leo has no known history of serious illness and is regarded as physically active. The timing is notable because the surgery comes before a Latin America trip scheduled for November 6–17, with visits planned to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Al Jazeera said it remains unclear whether the operation or recovery could affect the itinerary, though the pope said he still intends to make the journey.

More broadly, the case underscores the importance of the pope’s health to the Vatican and the global Catholic Church, especially when travel plans and public appearances are already on the calendar.