Pope Leo XIV will have surgery early this week to remove a small nodule on his lung. He announced it on Sunday during his weekly prayer in St. Peter's Square.

"During some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung," he said. "It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized." He said his doctors advised surgery and he agreed. He asked the crowd for their prayers.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the operation is set for the first days of this week, with recovery expected to take about a week. Vatican News said it will take place at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. The hospital has kept a special papal suite since the 1981 attempt on Pope John Paul II's life.

The Vatican did not say whether the nodule is cancerous. A lung nodule is a small spot of dense tissue, often found on a scan, and many are harmless. NBC News reported that the Vatican did not say what type of surgery is planned. If more lung tissue must be removed, full recovery can take three to four weeks.

Leo, 71, is the first American pope. He was born Robert Francis Prevost and succeeded Pope Francis about a year and a half ago. Francis also had lung problems that needed hospital care.

He has a major trip planned to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November. Doctors told NBC News he might still make the trip if the surgery is minimally invasive and finds no surprises.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Israeli President Isaac Herzog wished him a speedy recovery, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her "personal solidarity," the BBC reported.

What we know: The pope will have surgery at Gemelli Hospital early this week, and the Vatican expects about a week of recovery.
What we don't: Whether the nodule is cancerous, what kind of surgery he will have, and whether his November trip will change.