Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he will undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule. The pontiff shared the news with the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square following the recitation of the Angelus prayer.

The Holy Father stated that medical examinations had recently identified a well-defined nodule in one of his lungs. He noted that the condition was detected at a very early stage and is well localized. Following the recommendation of his physicians, Pope Leo XIV decided to proceed with the operation.

“Dear brothers and sisters, recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a well-defined nodule in one of my lungs,” the Pope said. “The operation has already been scheduled for the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers.”

Surgery Schedule and Hospitalization

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, indicated that the surgery is scheduled for early this week. While an exact date has not been publicly confirmed, the procedure is expected to take place in the coming days.

The Pope is anticipated to be hospitalized for approximately one week at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. All papal engagements scheduled for the immediate future have been canceled to accommodate his hospitalization and recovery.

Impact on Upcoming Events

Among the canceled events is the closing Mass of an international meeting on the family. This gathering marked the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. The Pope had been scheduled to preside at the Mass on Wednesday alongside presidents of bishops’ conferences from around the world.

Despite the upcoming surgery, Vatican officials indicated that the procedure is not expected to prevent a planned trip to South America. The pontiff is scheduled to travel from November 6 to 17. During his Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV specifically referred to an upcoming pastoral visit to Peru as part of this itinerary.

Recent Papal Activities

The announcement comes just ten days after the Pope led a rosary prayer for peace with hundreds of children in the Vatican Gardens on October 1. That event highlighted his ongoing commitment to fostering peace and engaging with younger generations of Catholics.

The Church continues to pray for the Pope’s successful surgery and swift recovery as he prepares for this medical intervention. The Holy See has requested spiritual closeness from the global Catholic community during this time.