Pope Leo to undergo surgery for small growth on lung

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wished the pope well.

“I would like to express to the Holy Father my personal support, and that of the Italian government, as he faces this challenge in the coming days,” she said in a statement.

“The serenity and composure with which he spoke about it during today’s Angelus are reassuring,” Meloni added.

The late Pope Francis, Pope Leo’s predecessor, died at age 88 and was increasingly frail in his later years.

The Vatican press office said the pope’s recovery from surgery was expected to take about a week. It did not immediately provide further details about the pope’s health.

Pope Leo keeps a busy schedule and is due to make an 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov 6 to 17.

Before mentioning his health issue in his address on Sunday, the pope referred to the trip, thanking Catholics for their prayers “for the pastoral visit I will undertake”.