Pope Leo XIV will undergo surgery this week, to remove a localised nodule on his lung.
The Holy Father announced this to the faithful gathered for his Angelus on Sunday and asked for their prayers as he underwent this surgery.
“Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localised nodule in my lung,” he said on Sunday.
“It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localised. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers. Thank you, and happy Sunday!”
The operation is set to take place in the first few days of this week at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome. The hospital is the largest hospital in Rome and named after the founder of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore to which it is attached, the Franciscan friar, physician and psychologist Agostino Gemelli.
The hospital treated Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis during their pontificates.
The Holy See later confirmed the post-operative recovery time will be about one week.
Pope Leo XIV has been known to keep in good physical health, playing weekly tennis and swimming regularly prior to his election to the Pontificate.
The faithful are being encouraged to keep the Holy Father in their prayers during this week, as he undergoes his operation and begins his recovery.
