Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule detected during medical examinations, with the 71-year-old pontiff expected to spend about a week in hospital recovering, the Vatican said.

The Pope announced the development on Sunday during his weekly Angelus address in St Peter’s Square, saying doctors had discovered the growth at an early stage and recommended its removal.

“Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors found a localised nodule in my lung,” Leo said, adding that he had decided to follow their advice.

The Vatican has not disclosed whether the nodule is benign or malignant, and no cancer diagnosis has been announced.

The procedure is expected to take place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, although further details about the Pope’s condition have not been made public.

Leo, elected head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, thanked the faithful for their support and asked them to pray for him ahead of the operation.

The Pope is expected to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November, although the Vatican has yet to say whether the surgery will affect his travel plans.

Attention now turns to the outcome of the procedure and the Pope’s recovery, with further details about the lung nodule yet to be disclosed.

The Vatican has not announced any changes to his official schedule.