Pope Leo to have lung surgery this week after doctors find a lesion caught early

Pope Leo XIV will have lung surgery this week after doctors found a nodular lesion in his lung during recent check-ups, the Vatican said on Sunday 11 October 2026, as CBS News reported from the Associated Press. The pope, who is 71, told the faithful the lesion had been caught early and was "circumscribed", meaning it is contained in one area.

When and where

• Hospital: Rome's Gemelli Hospital, which keeps a dedicated apartment for popes and treated Pope Francis through several stays.
• Date: Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni did not give an exact day, saying only that the pope would be admitted in the "first days" of the week. In Pakistan time, that means sometime from Monday 12 October, with Rome three hours behind PKT.
• Recovery: about one week, according to the Vatican's projection.

The Vatican has not said what kind of operation it will be or whether the lesion has been tested, and it has not used the word cancer. A nodular lesion is a small, rounded spot seen on a scan; most are investigated or removed precisely so doctors can find out what they are. We will not guess at a diagnosis the Vatican has not given.

What it means for his schedule

Leo is booked for a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 7 to 16 November. The Vatican's statement did not say whether the surgery or recovery would change those plans, and on Sunday the pope asked people to pray for the Peru leg of the journey, which suggests it is still on. Peru carries special weight for him: he worked there for years as a missionary and bishop before his election.

He had no known health problems before this. He is known to stay active, playing tennis every week and swimming at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the BBC and AP noted.

Why people in Pakistan are following it

Leo, the first pope from the United States, has led the world's 1.4 billion Catholics since May 2025, and Pakistan's Catholic community, centred in Lahore, Karachi and Faisalabad, follows his health closely. He has also spoken repeatedly on the wars in the Middle East that now touch the Gulf, where millions of Pakistanis live and work.

What happens next

The Vatican normally issues a short bulletin after any papal operation and daily updates while the pope is in hospital. We will add the outcome here when it does. For other world news this week, see our coverage of the Riyadh airport attack.