Pope Leo XIV is scheduled for surgery to remove a lung nodule, the Vatican announced on October 12, 2026. The 71-year-old pontiff will enter Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday morning for the procedure.

The Vatican anticipates a hospital recovery period of approximately one week. This medical necessity has led to the cancellation of the Pope’s scheduled audiences until October 20.

During his weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo informed pilgrims of the discovery. He described a small nodule found on his left lung during a routine checkup, noting it was "well-contained" and detected early. He stated that doctors advised surgical intervention, a recommendation he has chosen to follow.

The Vatican has not specified whether the nodule is suspected to be malignant. The Pope has no known history of significant illness and is described as physically active, regularly engaging in swimming and tennis. The upcoming surgery precedes a planned papal tour of Latin America from November 6–17, which includes stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

It remains uncertain whether the surgery and recovery will impact the Latin America itinerary, although Pope Leo expressed his intention to proceed with the journey to reporters on Sunday. His predecessor, Pope Francis, passed away at the age of 88, having experienced several hospitalizations and a decline in physical strength in his later years. Pope Francis often did not publicly announce his hospital visits, which sometimes fueled considerable media speculation about his health.

The announcement of the surgery comes shortly after Pope Leo’s recent papal visit to France, which concluded on September 29, 2026. During this visit, he was notably escorted by fighter jets on the final day of his tour to Metz.

Pope Leo XIV has previously addressed contemporary issues, including concerns about the risks posed by artificial intelligence, stating that such worries are not "fake news." He has also voiced strong opinions on the death penalty, deeming it "inadmissible."