Pope Leo XIV to Undergo Surgery to Remove Lung Nodule

File photo of Pope Leo XIV at his inauguration Mass in Vatican City on May 18, 2025. Photo by Freddie Everett, U.S. Department of State.

File photo: Pope Leo XIV at his inauguration Mass, May 18, 2025. Freddie Everett / U.S. Department of State, public domain. Photo source.

Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday, October 11, 2026, that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a small nodule in his lung.

Speaking after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said doctors discovered the nodule during recent medical examinations. He said it was detected at a very early stage and was well localized. He decided to have it removed on his doctors’ advice, according to the Vatican’s official transcript.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the operation is planned for early in the coming week, with an expected hospital stay of about one week afterward, ANSA reported. ABC News reported that the procedure is scheduled at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. An exact surgery date was not announced.

What is known about the nodule

The Vatican has not disclosed whether the nodule is malignant, Reuters reported. A lung nodule is a small abnormal area in a lung. Such nodules can have several causes, and finding one does not by itself establish a cancer diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society.

The pope thanked those gathered for their support and asked for prayer.

“I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Peter the Roman: Has the Prophecy of the Popes Been Fulfilled?

Peter the Roman paperback collection: Book 1, Book 2, and the Official Research Companion PDF

Explore the Prophecy of the Popes, papal history, and Bible prophecy in the two-volume investigation by Josh Peck and Dustin Wray Hockensmith. The Paperback Collection includes both books and the Official Research Companion PDF.

Get the Peter the Roman Collection

Watch the related interview: Did the Prophecy of the Popes Fail? Look Again! with Dustin Hockensmith and Josh Peck.

Get the Renegade Publishers Newsletter

Get new articles, Bible prophecy research, interviews, book releases, and special updates delivered to your inbox. Free to join. Unsubscribe anytime.

Follow Daily Renegade on YouTube for more reports, interviews, and research.