Pope Leo says he will undergo surgery for small growth on lung

Pope Leo said on Sunday that doctors had detected ​a small growth on his lung during ‌a recent health check and he would be undergoing surgery this week to remove it, in the first health ​scare of the 71-year-old pontiff’s tenure.

Leo told pilgrims ​in St.

Peter’s Square for his weekly Sunday ⁠prayer that the growth was “well-contained” and caught at ​an early stage.

“Recently, during some medical examinations, doctors ​found a localised nodule in my lung,” said the pontiff.

“It was detected at a very early stage and is well contained.” “The ​doctors believe it is advisable to intervene, so, ​following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to ‌remove ⁠it,” he said.

“The operation is already scheduled for the next few days.” Leo, elected pope by the world’s cardinals in May 2025, is relatively young for a ​Church leader.

He ​enjoys sports, ⁠including tennis, and is not known to previously have had health issues.

The late ​Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, died at ​age 88 ⁠and was increasingly frail in his later years.

The Vatican press office said Leo’s recovery from surgery was ⁠expected ​to take about a week.

It ​did not immediately provide further details about the pope’s health.