Pope Leo to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule in Rome
Vatican expects a one-week hospital recovery for the 71-year-old Catholic leader ahead of scheduled Latin America tour.

Vatican expects a one-week hospital recovery for the 71-year-old Catholic leader ahead of scheduled Latin America tour.





![Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd as he leaves at the end of a prayer vigil with young people at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis on the outskirts of Paris. [AFP]](https://aljazeeranews-mggx1uo47w.edgeone.app/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/afp_6ab6f342b1d9-1790374722.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)



Older people remain most at risk as the heatwave drives up excess deaths across Europe.

Pope Leo expressed solidarity with Venezuelans after two deadly earthquakes claimed the lives of at least 1,400.
The pontiff presented his encyclical at the Vatican alongside AI experts.
In his first encyclical, Leo insists ownership of artificial intelligence data must not be left solely in private hands.

Pope Leo has warned that some AI-powered weapons systems are becoming ‘practically beyond human control’.

Redi Tlhabi speaks with Kim Daniels on the growing strain between the Vatican and Donald Trump.
Rome balances US ties with domestic pressure as the Iran war strains the alliance and fuels economic fallout.
The State Department says Leo-Rubio meeting underscores ‘strong ties’, despite Trump’s recent attacks on the pope.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin says the meeting was requested by the US.
Comments come before Marco Rubio’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday.