Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer after surgery

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer following surgery to remove a growth in his lung, the Vatican announced on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The procedure, performed at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, involved the removal of the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung. According to a statement by Leo's doctors released by the church, lung tissue examined after the surgery confirmed a previous test that revealed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Surgery Details and Recovery

The surgery was led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon. The Vatican stated that the operation was successful and that there were no complications. The procedure itself lasted approximately 90 minutes, though the Pope was in the operating room for about three hours. Following the surgery, Leo awoke normally and returned to his room on the hospital's 10th floor after a brief period of observation.

The Vatican press office noted that the medical statement described the "radical" removal of the lobe, indicating that doctors removed all suspect tissue in hopes of eliminating any lingering traces of the cancer. Leo’s lymph nodes were also removed and tested to determine if the cancer had spread, but results from those tests have not yet been released.

Prognosis and Future Treatment

Adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer in the United States, representing about 40% of all lung cancers, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, noted that adenocarcinoma has "the most favorable prognosis," but emphasized the need for staging. "While we know the diagnosis we now need to know the stage," Liu said. "We now need to know how big it is, how many spots in the lung are involved. Is it just one nodule, or more than one, and the lymph nodes, are they cancerous?"

The Vatican has not announced any further treatments. Doctors are not currently speaking of chemotherapy or other therapies pending the results of additional tests. If the cancer has spread, oncologists indicate that options could include chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or targeted therapy.

Impact on Schedule and Travel

The Vatican has canceled all of Leo’s audiences through October 20. The 71-year-old Pope, who has not been known to smoke, has a family history of cancer; his mother, Mildred, died of cancer in 1990, and his older brother Louis is currently hospitalized with a form of cancer.

There is uncertainty regarding Leo’s planned trip to South America from November 6 to 17, which includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The itinerary involves over 31,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) of travel. Oncologists often advise patients not to fly for three weeks after surgery, which would allow just enough time for recovery before the trip begins. Tokyo Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu, who saw Leo on Monday, said the Pope decided to undergo surgery soon "in order to not change his plans for future overseas trips, so there is no need to worry, as it is not an emergency."

Why it matters

This is the first publicly disclosed major health problem of Pope Leo XIV's 17-month papacy. The transparency regarding his diagnosis and the potential impact on his international schedule highlights the physical demands of the papacy and the medical considerations involved in maintaining the Pope's public duties. The outcome of the lymph node tests will be critical in determining the next steps for his treatment and his ability to fulfill upcoming commitments.

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Sources

• npr.org: Pope Leo has lung cancer, the Vatican announces after surgery : NPR
• globalnews.ca: Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer after nodule removal, Vatican says - National | Globalnews.ca

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.