
Pope Leo XIV has announced that he will undergo surgery in the coming days after a medical check-up revealed a mass in his lung.
The Holy Father, 71, announced during Sunday's prayer in St. Peter's Square in Rome that doctors have identified the mass at an early stage and that it is localized.
According to the Pope, the medical team believes that the intervention is necessary, and he has accepted the doctors' recommendation.
The Holy See Press Office spokesman, Matteo Bruni, announced that the operation is scheduled for the first few days of next week. After the intervention, the Pope is expected to have a recovery period of about a week.
According to Vatican News, the operation will be performed at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where a special suite for the Pope has existed for years.
Pope Leo XIV, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, was elected to the head of the Catholic Church in 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
He is the 267th Pope and the first of American origin. Before his election, he served for many years as a missionary in Peru, where he was committed to supporting marginalized communities.