Pope Leo XIV announced that in the coming days he will undergo an operation to remove a nodule found in his lung at an early stage. The 71-year-old pontiff announced this on Sunday during the traditional half-day prayer in St. Peter's Square of the Vatican, reports NBC News. "Recently, during medical examinations, doctors discovered a localized nodule in my lung. It was discovered at a very early stage and was clearly limited," said the leader of the Catholic Church, speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace. The pontiff noted that doctors consider surgical intervention to be the most expedient treatment option. Following their advice, he decided to remove the growth. The surgery is already scheduled for the next few days. "I entrust myself to your prayers," Leo XIV addressed the crowd, thanking them for their support. Thousands of people present in St. Peter's Square greeted his announcement with applause. The Vatican has not yet provided additional information on the nature of the knot, the presumed diagnosis and the timelines for recovery. The pontiff mentioned the operation at the end of his address, where he also called for an end to the war in Ukraine and to ensure the safe transportation of grain through the Black Sea. "The daily bread of millions of people should not become a hostage of war," he declared. Earlier, serious health problems of Levon XIV were not publicly reported. The pontiff is known for his physical activity and plays tennis regularly. In November, the head of the Catholic Church is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. It is not yet known whether the surgery and subsequent recovery will affect the schedule of the visit. Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, became the first Pope from the United States in 2025. He was born in Chicago and spent most of his ecclesiastical career in Peru, where he was involved in pastoral activities before heading one of the Vatican's key divisions responsible for episcopal affairs.