A nodule was detected in the lung of Pope Leo 14: Doctors decided to perform surgery

Pope Leo 14, the spiritual leader of Catholics, announced that he will undergo surgery due to a nodule detected in his lung.

In his statement after the traditional noon prayer held in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Sunday, October 11, the 71-year-old Pope stated that a small nodule was detected in his lung during his last health checks.

Stating that the nodule was noticed at an early stage and was located in a limited area, the Pope announced that he decided to undergo surgery upon the recommendation of the doctors.

'I DECIDED TO HAVE SURGERY WITH THE ADVICE OF THE DOCTORS'

Making a statement regarding his health condition, Pope Leo XIV used the following statements:

"During a recent health check-up, doctors detected a small nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is limited to a specific area. Doctors think that intervention is the best option. Therefore, following their advice, I decided to undergo surgery to remove the nodule."

Stating that the surgery will be performed in the coming days, the Pope thanked those who supported him and asked them to pray.

The Vatican has not yet made a statement about whether the nodule is benign or malignant.

THE SURGERY WILL BE DONE IN ROME

Vatican Spokesperson Matteo Bruni stated that the surgery will be performed in the first days of this week.

The Pope is expected to undergo surgery at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, which has a special department for the treatment of popes.

Bruni announced that the recovery process after the operation will take about a week.

Details regarding the Pope's hospitalization date and the surgical method to be applied have not yet been shared.

LATIN AMERICA VISIT REMAINS UNCERTAIN

Pope Leo XIV is planned to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between 6-17 November.

It is not yet known whether the surgery and the subsequent recovery process will affect the visit schedule.

However, the Pope reiterated in his statement on Sunday that he planned to make the trip in question.

It is known that Pope Leo XIV, who had no known serious health problems before, played tennis regularly and swam at the Vatican's summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.

POPE FRANCISCUS DIED HIS LIFE AFTER LUNG DISORDER

Pope Francis, the predecessor of Pope Leo XIV, died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, after long-term health problems.

Franciscus was treated in the hospital for a long time because his respiratory disease turned into bilateral pneumonia, and he died of a stroke weeks after he was discharged.

Franciscus, who had part of his lung removed when he was young, struggled with chronic respiratory problems throughout his life.