Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery to remove lung mass, says it was discovered at a very early stage

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) Pope Leo XIV said on Sunday (October 11) that he will undergo surgery this week to remove a mass in his lung.

"During a recent medical examination, a nodule was discovered in my lungs. It was detected at a very early stage and was very localized," the 71-year-old pope said during his weekly address in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

"The doctors felt that an intervention should be carried out, so, following their advice, I decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The surgery has been scheduled for the next few days," he added.

Regarding the Pope’s condition: less than 5% are malignant

This is the first major health warning for the 71-year-old American since he became pope in 2025.

Pulmonary nodules are small, localized lesions less than 3 centimeters (1 inch) in diameter that may be benign.

According to the American Thoracic Society, less than 5% of lung nodules turn out to be cancerous.

The American Cancer Society says these nodules sometimes show up on CT scans of the chest or abdomen, often during tests to rule out trauma or lung infection and are not related to cancer screening.

Liang was younger than most popes. His predecessor, Francis, was five years older than him when he took office, and Francis's predecessor, Benedict XVI, was 78 when he took office.

It is reported that Liang had no previous health problems and had a relatively active lifestyle.