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Vatican Angelus, 11 October 2026

Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on Tuesday, October 13, for surgery to remove a lung nodule. The procedure, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, is being performed by a medical team led by chief thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora.

The 71-year-old pope announced the upcoming medical intervention during the Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 11, after doctors discovered a small, localized nodule in his lung. The Holy See clarified that the examinations leading to this discovery were routine checks. Following the surgery, the pope is expected to remain in the hospital for one week of convalescence.

The Vatican has canceled all papal audiences through October 20. Despite the surgery, the pope is still scheduled to travel to South America from November 6 to 17 to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

In response to the announcement, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria called on the faithful to pray for the pope's successful operation and recovery. Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of the Archdiocese of Kaduna expressed gratitude that the condition was detected at an early stage.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

8 sources13 reports4 languages

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  6. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova and Notre Dame universities
  7. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  8. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  10. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  11. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Wednesday 14 October

Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery

Earlier version, Tuesday 13 October

Pope Leo XIV to undergo lung surgery Tuesday

Earlier version, Tuesday 13 October

Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery for lung nodule

Earlier version, Tuesday 13 October

Pope Leo XIV to undergo lung surgery on Tuesday

Earlier version, Tuesday 13 October

Pope Leo XIV to undergo lung surgery

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 12, 1:15 AM cath.ch Français Stupeur et solidarité après l’annonce de l’opération du pape
  2. Oct 12, 5:03 AM Aleteia Français Léon XIV hospitalisé : les dernières nouvelles sur son état de santé
  3. Oct 12, 5:16 AM ZENIT News Agency Français Le pape Léon XIV opéré ce mardi d’un nodule au poumon
  4. Oct 12, 7:06 AM America Pope will enter hospital Tuesday for surgery to remove lung nodule
  5. Oct 11, 12:36 PM Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Bishops, clergy, religious and faithful offer prayers for Pope Leo ahead of lung surgery
  6. Oct 12, 2:34 AM The Catholic Register Bishops, clergy, religious and faithful join in prayer for Pope Leo ahead of lung surgery
  7. Oct 11, 3:38 AM DOMRADIO.DE Deutsch "In den kommenden Tagen" / Papst Leo XIV. muss an der Lunge operiert werden
  8. Oct 13, 6:47 PM Diocese of Linz Deutsch Papst Leo XIV. wird in den kommenden Tagen operiert
  9. Oct 11, 5:00 PM Archdiocese of Miami Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule
  10. Oct 11, 10:10 PM Catholic World News Pope Leo to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule (CWN)
  11. Oct 13, 2:00 AM Niedziela Polski Papież Leon XIV przejdzie dziś operację usunięcia guzka w płucu
  12. Oct 13, 5:12 AM Crux Pope Leo XIV arrives at Rome’s Gemelli hospital ahead of surgery to remove lung nodule
  13. Oct 13, 1:50 PM ACI Africa Nigerian Catholic Bishops Call for Spiritual Solidarity with Pope Leo XIV ahead of Lung Surgery

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  6. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova and Notre Dame universities
  7. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  8. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  10. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  11. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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