ABC · October 11, 2026

Milei sent his best wishes for a speedy recovery to Pope Leo XIV, who is scheduled to undergo lung surgery

Pope Leo XIV announced that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lump from his lung. He made the announcement himself from the Vatican after the Sunday prayer and clarified that the problem was detected at a very early stage and is well localized. The pontiff is 71 years old and appeared calm as he delivered the news.

Javier Milei reacted with a message on X. “All of Argentina stands with His Holiness in affection and prayer,” wrote the president, who also prayed for the pontiff’s recovery. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni indicated that the post-surgery hospital stay will last about seven days and that this will require a pause in the Pope’s schedule. The visit that Leo XIV had planned to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, scheduled for November 6–17, has been put on hold.

Via ABC