Pope Leo is to undergo surgery to remove a small growth on his lung which was detected during a recent health check.
According to RTE, Leo has said that he would be undergoing surgery this week to remove it, and that this is his first health scare in his 71 years.
In St Peter's Square, Leo told pilgrims that the growth on his lung had been spotted early and was "well-contained."
According to the American Cancer Society, a lung nodule is a small spot measuring under 3 cm (about 1 inch) that can show up on a chest or abdominal CT scan. These spots are frequently discovered by chance when a scan is performed for a different reason, such as checking for an injury or evaluating a lung infection, rather than for a routine cancer screening.
Leo said according to the Guardian that during a recent medical check “doctors found a small, localised nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is circumscribed. The doctors believe it’s best to take action, so, following their advice, I’ve decided to have surgery to remove it. The surgery is already scheduled for the coming days. Thank you for your spiritual support, and I entrust myself to your prayers."
The Guardian have reported that Leo is due to undergo surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital where Francis and many popes before him were treated.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni one of the few visitors granted access to Francis during his extended final hospital stay offered her full backing and that of her government to Leo as he takes on this upcoming challenge.
In her statement, Meloni noted that she took comfort in "the serenity and calm with which he spoke about it."
