Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule

Pope Leo XIV has announced he will undergo surgery to remove a localized lung nodule found during a medical check-up.

• Pope Leo announced during the Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square that doctors found a localized lung nodule and he agreed to the surgery.
• The 71-year-old pontiff said the operation would take place in the "coming days," with a Vatican spokesman saying it is scheduled for early next week.
• The Vatican spokesman said the pope would need about a week in hospital to recover.
• The nodule was detected at a very early stage, is confined to the lung and precisely located, and doctors advised the operation.
• The surgery will take place at Rome's Gemelli Hospital during the week beginning October 12.
• The surgery could affect the pope's scheduled November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
• The Vatican did not say whether the nodule is malignant, and the pope has no known prior health issues.
• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her support following the announcement.