Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma following successful surgery to remove part of his right lung. The Vatican stated the procedure had no complications, though the cancer stage remains undisclosed.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer following surgery to remove a nodular lesion from his right lung. The 71-year-old pontiff was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, according to a news release issued by the Holy See Press Office on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
The surgery took place at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and was described by the Vatican as "successful" with "no complications." The procedure was led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon.
According to the Vatican, the operation involved removing the lower lobe of the pope's right lung to ensure a complete removal of the affected tissue. "To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique," the Vatican said in a statement. "Intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as suspected from pre-operative tests."
The pope was in the operating room for approximately three hours, while the surgical procedure itself lasted about 90 minutes. The Vatican stated that Leo "regained consciousness normally" after the operation and returned to his room on the 10th floor of the hospital. He is expected to remain hospitalized for about one week.
Lung adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer. According to the American Lung Association, non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about 80% of all lung cancer cases. The Lung Cancer Foundation of America notes that adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer in the United States, making up about 40% of diagnosed cases. It typically forms in glandular cells on the outer parts of the lung and tends to grow more slowly than other types, which can lead to earlier diagnosis.
The Vatican did not disclose the stage of the cancer or whether it had spread. The American Thoracic Society states that lung nodules are usually less than a half-inch in size and that fewer than 5% turn out to be cancerous. When a nodule is cancerous, it is often a sign of early-stage disease.
The Vatican canceled all of Pope Leo’s audiences through Oct. 20. There is currently no confirmation regarding his planned trip to South America, scheduled for Nov. 6 to Nov. 17, which includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The itinerary involves significant travel, including just over 19,000 miles and altitude changes in Peru.
Tokyo Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu, who met with the pope on Monday, reported that Leo felt fine and decided to proceed with surgery immediately to avoid altering his travel plans. "He has 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," Kikuchi wrote on the Facebook page of the Tokyo archdiocese.
In a related development, Louis Prevost, Pope Leo’s older brother, was also diagnosed with multiple myeloma earlier this year. Deborah Prevost, Louis’s wife, told CBS News that her husband fell out of remission three months ago and is currently in a clinical trial. She stated that the brothers spoke last week before Louis’s treatment.
The diagnosis marks the first publicly disclosed major health issue for Pope Leo XIV during his 17-month papacy. While the Vatican has maintained a level of transparency by announcing the surgery and diagnosis promptly, the lack of information regarding the cancer's stage leaves uncertainty about the pope's long-term health and his ability to fulfill his extensive travel schedule. The situation highlights the ongoing balance between papal privacy and the public's interest in the health of the Catholic Church's leader.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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