Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a nodule on his lung, the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. The 71-year-old pope made the announcement during his noon blessing in St. Peter's Square.

"Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a localized nodule in my lung," Leo said. "It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained," adding, "The doctors believe it is advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled for the next few days."

The Vatican did not say whether the nodule is believed to be malignant or give a date for the procedure. It said his recovery is expected to take about a week.

Leo has one major event coming up, the closing Mass on Wednesday of a weeklong conference on family ministry, though Vatican officials suggested he might miss it, the AP said. He is due to make an 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17, and said Sunday he still plans to go. The Uruguayan Bishops' Conference said preparations "continue with hope to welcome him to Uruguay."

Leo has one major event coming up, the closing Mass on Wednesday of a weeklong conference on family ministry, though Vatican officials suggested he might miss it, the AP said. He is due to make an 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17, and said Sunday he still plans to go.

The Uruguayan Bishops' Conference said preparations "continue with hope to welcome him to Uruguay."

In response to the news, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a statement saying, "I would like to express to the Holy Father my personal support, and that of the Italian government, as he faces this challenge in the coming days." She called the "serenity and composure" with which he spoke "reassuring."

Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said: "May the hand of Pope Leo's surgeons be guided by the divine physician Jesus Christ." Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, head of the Italian bishops' conference, said: "We are one family: Holy Father, you are not alone!"