Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Cancer After Surgery
File photo: Pope Leo XIV at his inauguration Mass, May 18, 2025. Freddie Everett / U.S. Department of State, public domain. Photo source.
Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery Tuesday, October 13, at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital.
The Vatican confirmed that an examination of tissue during the operation identified pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung in an operation the Holy See said was successful and completed without complications.
The diagnosis follows several days of public statements regarding a small lung nodule discovered during routine medical examinations. On Sunday, October 11, Pope Leo told those gathered for the Angelus that doctors had found a localized nodule in his lung. He said it had been detected at a very early stage and was well localized, and that his doctors had recommended surgery. Vatican News published his announcement.
The 71-year-old pontiff was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday. The thoracic surgery team was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, according to the Holy See Press Office.
Surgeons Removed the Lower Lobe of Pope Leo’s Right Lung
The Vatican’s medical bulletin provided additional details following the operation. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of Pope Leo’s right lung using a video-assisted surgical technique.
The Holy See said the removal was performed to ensure the “radicality” of the operation, a medical term referring to an attempt to completely remove the affected tissue. The intraoperative histological examination then confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, which had already been suspected on the basis of preoperative testing.
Pope Leo was in the operating room for approximately three hours. The surgical procedure itself lasted about 90 minutes. The Vatican reported that the operation was successful and that there were no complications. After awakening normally and spending a short period under observation, he returned to his room on the tenth floor of Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican’s medical update gives the full surgical summary.
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Tests Confirmed Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma
The intraoperative examination confirmed that the nodule was pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The Vatican said the diagnosis had been suspected before surgery and was confirmed while the operation was underway.
Adenocarcinoma is one of the principal forms of non-small cell lung cancer. The U.S. National Cancer Institute identifies adenocarcinoma as the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer. The NCI describes the major forms of non-small cell lung cancer here.
A lobectomy is surgery to remove an entire lobe of a lung. The right lung has three lobes, while the left has two. The National Cancer Institute lists lobectomy among the surgical procedures used to treat some forms and stages of non-small cell lung cancer.
The fact that the affected lobe was surgically removed does not, by itself, establish the pope’s final cancer stage or determine whether any additional treatment will be necessary.
The Vatican Has Not Announced a Formal Cancer Stage
Before the operation, Pope Leo publicly described the nodule as having been discovered at a “very early stage” and as being well localized.
The nodule was discovered during routine medical examinations rather than after the Vatican announced that the pope had developed serious symptoms.
The pope’s statement that the abnormality was detected very early is encouraging information, but it is not the same thing as a formal cancer-stage diagnosis.
Cancer staging considers factors such as the size and location of a tumor, whether nearby lymph nodes contain cancer cells, and whether the disease has spread elsewhere in the body. The National Cancer Institute notes that determining the stage of non-small cell lung cancer is important in planning treatment. The NCI’s patient information explains the staging and treatment process.
As of the latest Vatican medical report, officials have not announced a specific stage for Pope Leo’s adenocarcinoma.
The Associated Press reported that lymph nodes were expected to be tested to determine whether the cancer had spread, but no results from those tests had been announced. The Vatican also had not announced a plan for chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or additional surgery.
Those questions remain open pending further testing and medical evaluation.
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Pope Expected to Remain Hospitalized During Recovery
Before Tuesday’s operation, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Pope Leo was expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week. His public schedule was changed as a result of the surgery and recovery period, with Vatican audiences canceled through October 20.
The pope’s hospitalization is the first publicly disclosed major health problem of his papacy. Leo XIV was elected in May 2025 and became the first U.S.-born pope.
Before the surgery, the pope continued carrying out scheduled meetings and Vatican business. The Vatican has not announced that his hospitalization changes his status or authority as pope.
A planned South American trip is also scheduled for November. According to the Associated Press, the current itinerary calls for travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 through November 17. The Vatican has not announced whether the surgery or cancer diagnosis will alter that trip.
Any decision regarding travel is expected to depend on the pope’s recovery and the results of additional medical testing.
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What Happens Next
The surgery established that the lung nodule was cancerous and that it was pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung, the operation was completed without reported complications, and Pope Leo returned to his hospital room following the procedure.
Several medically significant details have not yet been announced publicly.
The Vatican has not released a formal cancer stage. It has not announced the results of lymph-node testing or said whether there is evidence that the cancer has spread beyond the removed lung tissue. It has also not announced whether doctors will recommend additional cancer treatment after the pope recovers from surgery.
Those results will help determine the next stage of medical care and may affect how quickly Pope Leo resumes his full public schedule.
For now, the Holy See says the operation was successful and there were no complications. Additional information is expected as doctors complete further testing and the pope continues his recovery at Gemelli Hospital.
Renegade Publishers will continue following official Vatican medical statements as additional information becomes available.