Pope Leo XIV is due to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, Deutsche Welle reports, citing confirmation from the Vatican. The procedure is intended to help establish whether the nodule is cancerous.
According to DW, the Pope is under the care of Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The operation is due to take place under general anaesthetic, with a hospital stay expected to last a week. That is the anticipated length of his admission, not a confirmed date for the end of treatment.
Leo XIV told worshippers about the health problem himself during Sunday’s service in St Peter’s Square, the German broadcaster reports. All his scheduled duties up to and including 20 October have been cancelled because of the planned procedure.
DW’s report concerns preparations for surgery, rather than its outcome. The key question remains whether the nodule is cancerous: the planned operation is intended to help clarify this.
