Pope Leo XIV has publicly announced that he will undergo lung surgery in the coming days after a localized gland was found at a very early stage during medical checkups. So far, the Holy See has not provided further details on the diagnosis or the procedure itself.
The announcement was made by the Pope himself during the Angelus
The news was announced by the Holy Father himself during Sunday’s Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican, before the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope said the formation in the lung was discovered during several recent checkups and that, according to doctors’ assessment, the procedure is considered necessary.
What he said about his health condition
In his public statement, Pope Leo XIV made clear that it is a localized gland, identified early and well contained.
According to him, the decision for surgery was made following doctors’ advice, with the aim of removing the formation through a surgical procedure.
Few details from the Vatican
Beyond the Pope’s statement, no other details have been made public about the diagnosis, the exact nature of the gland, or the procedure expected to be carried out.
This still leaves some of the main questions about his health unanswered, while official information remains limited to what has been communicated so far.
Message to the faithful amid the surgery announcement
During his remarks, the Pope also delivered a message emphasizing the importance of doing good, even when it is not understood or appreciated by others.
He said that good can be misunderstood and rejected, but that this, in his view, should not become a reason to withdraw. The Pope added that the joy conveyed by the Church is linked to people’s daily lives, to work, tears, smiles and gestures of kindness.
The surgery is scheduled to be carried out in the coming days.
Until a fuller announcement from the Vatican, the Pope’s condition remains described only along the lines he himself has chosen to share publicly.