Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that he will undergo surgery early next week to remove a nodule found in one of his lungs, after doctors detected the lesion during recent medical examinations. The pontiff said the condition was identified at an early stage and that his medical team recommended surgery. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that Leo XIV is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week following the procedure.

The announcement comes just weeks before the pope is scheduled to embark on his first major Latin American tour since his election in May 2025. The apostolic journey is currently scheduled for November 6–17, 2026, with stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The Holy See has not announced any changes to the itinerary as a result of the upcoming surgery.

Leo XIV is scheduled to begin the tour in Uruguay, where he will remain from November 6 to 8. His program includes official meetings in Montevideo, a meeting with President Yamandú Orsi, celebrations at the Metropolitan Cathedral and an encounter with young people at the Estadio Centenario. He is also scheduled to celebrate Mass in Paysandú and at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Florida.

The pope will then travel to Argentina, where he is expected to meet President Javier Milei and participate in a series of religious, institutional and social activities. The program includes a visit to the Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione in Claypole, Mass at the Monumento de los Españoles, a meeting with workers at the Catholic University of Argentina and a visit to Córdoba. He is also scheduled to travel to Luján before departing for Peru.

The final stage of the trip will take Leo XIV to Peru, a country with deep personal and pastoral significance for the pontiff. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, he spent decades working as a missionary in Peru and later served as bishop of Chiclayo. His November itinerary includes Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa, with a return to Chiclayo and meetings with missionaries and representatives of Amazonian communities.

The upcoming procedure therefore comes at a significant moment for the pope's international agenda. For now, the Vatican's travel plans remain unchanged, while Leo XIV's recovery following surgery will be closely monitored ahead of his planned 12-day journey through South America.