Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery after nodular lesion found in lung, Vatican says
Updated on: October 11, 2026 / 8:13 PM EDT / CBS/AP
TL;DR
- Pope Leo XIV will have surgery to remove a nodular lesion found in his lung.
- The Vatican confirmed the surgery will take place in the first days of the week, with a one-week recovery period.
- The lesion was discovered during recent medical checks and is described as being in an early stage.
- The pope plans to proceed with a major trip scheduled for November.
- Lung nodules are often benign but can appear similar to cancerous ones on imaging, making surgical removal important for diagnosis.