Pope Leo XIV, 71, says he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule discovered during recent medical checks. In a statement during his Sunday noon blessing, he thanks people for their concern and asks them to keep him in their prayers.

The Vatican says the nodule is detected at an early stage and described as localized (“circumscribed”/well-localized). Several outlets report the procedure is expected to take place in the first days of the week, with an estimated recovery period of about a week. Sources do not agree on further details about the medical findings, and most do not specify whether the lesion is malignant.

Some reports also provide context about his condition and schedule, noting he is considered physically active and has a major trip planned for Nov. 6–17 to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Overall coverage focuses on the announcement, the early-stage and localized nature of the lesion, and the expected short recovery timeline.