Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung during a planned operation in Rome. The Vatican disclosed [1] the diagnosis Tuesday, turning what initially appeared to be a routine procedure into a far more serious medical development.
The pontiff, 71, entered Agostino Gemelli University Hospital earlier Tuesday for surgery involving a small nodule on one of his lungs. He was seen waving to well-wishers as he traveled to the hospital.
The Vatican press office confirmed his admission in a statement, saying, “As announced, Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital.” Officials said the thoracic surgery team was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora.
The Vatican initially announced that the procedure had been completed successfully, on schedule and according to plan. Officials also reported that the pope had returned to his room following the operation.
That reassuring account changed three hours later when the Vatican announced that Leo had been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer. Doctors had suspected before the operation that the nodule could be cancerous.
Pope Leo XIV underwent thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, as planned, according to a statement from Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora released by the Holy See Press Office.
The surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung, and tissue examined during the operation confirmed the diagnosis of “lung adenocarcinoma,” as suspected from tests conducted beforehand.
The Pope was in the operating room approximately three hours, while the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes. The doctors said it was successful and there were no complications.
Pope Leo awoke normally after surgery and, following a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor, according to the statement.
https://t.co/63Fs28LCZJ— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 13, 2026 [2]
Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung using a video-assisted technique. An examination of tissue conducted during the operation confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, matching the concern raised by tests performed before surgery.
The pope spent approximately three hours in the operating room, while the surgery itself lasted about 90 minutes. According to the Vatican’s update, the operation was successful and there were no complications.
Leo awoke normally after the operation and remained under observation for a brief period. He was then returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor to begin his recovery.
Further testing will now be conducted, including an examination of lymph nodes. Those tests are expected to determine whether the cancer has spread and whether the pope will need additional treatment.
The diagnosis followed Leo’s public disclosure during Sunday’s Angelus Mass that doctors had found a “localized nodule” during a recent medical examination. He emphasized that the nodule had been detected at a “very early stage” and was “well-localized.”
Leo also asked faithful people around the world to pray for him before the operation. His remarks offered an early indication that doctors had identified a medical concern requiring surgery, although the cancer diagnosis was not announced until Tuesday.
All of the pope’s public audiences have been canceled through at least October 20. The cancellation gives him time to recover from the removal of the lung lobe and undergo the additional testing planned by doctors.
The Vatican has not yet announced whether Leo will require further treatment. That decision will depend on the results of continued testing, including the examination intended to show whether the cancer has moved beyond the area already treated.
For now, the most encouraging detail remains the timing of the discovery. Both Leo’s comments Sunday and the Vatican’s subsequent account indicated that the cancer appears to have been found at an early stage.
The case nevertheless represents a major health challenge for the pontiff following a procedure that became more extensive than the planned removal of a small nodule. The immediate operation was completed without complications, and Leo returned to his hospital room after awakening normally.