A first in history! Pope Leo XIV announced: I entrust myself to your prayers

It has been reported that Vatican President Pope Leo XIV will undergo an operation tomorrow morning at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to a mass (nodule) detected in his lung.

In the statement made to journalists from the Vatican Press Office, it was stated that Pope Leo XIV will undergo an operation tomorrow at noon at Gemelli Hospital to remove the mass in his lung.

It was shared that the mass in the Pope's lung was detected during routine health checks.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, A POPE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL HAVE SURGERY DURING SUNDAY PRAYER

71-year-old Pope Leo XIV said yesterday, during his traditional Sunday prayer from the window of his Vatican office overlooking St. Peter's Square, "Doctors detected a mass (nodule) in my lung. Doctors believe that intervention is appropriate, and therefore, on their advice, I decided to have surgery to remove the nodule. The surgery is planned to be performed in the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers." He used the expression.

Following this statement by the Pope, which was considered a "surprise", the Vatican Press Office announced that the recovery period after the operation was expected to last 1 week.

The Italian press also pointed out that for the first time in history, a Pope transparently announced during his Sunday prayer that he would undergo surgery in the coming days.

In the media reports, it was stated that the Pope decided to have surgery immediately in order not to cancel his South American trip, which included Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on November 6-17.

Following the death of Pope Francis, the previous head of state of the Vatican, on April 21, 2025, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected as Pope at the Conclave (Papal Election) on May 8, 2025, in the Vatican, the center of the Catholic Church, took the name "Pope Leo 14".