Pope Leo XIV is recovering steadily following surgery to remove part of his right lung after a cancerous nodule was detected, officials said. The 71-year-old pontiff underwent the operation on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where doctors excised the lower lobe of his right lung in an effort to completely remove the tumour, which was confirmed as lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.

The procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes and was reported to have been successful without complications, according to the pope’s lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Luigi Carbone. Post-operative blood tests and chest X-rays indicated normal recovery progress, and the Vatican confirmed the pope had resumed eating and begun walking within his hospital room. He is staying on the hospital’s 10th floor adjacent to a papal suite currently under renovation. Vatican officials anticipate a hospital stay of about one week, and all public audiences scheduled until October 20 have been cancelled.

Pope Leo publicly disclosed the discovery of the lung growth during recent medical tests following his regular Sunday address at St. Peter’s Square. He described the nodule as localized and detected at an early stage, prompting the decision for surgical intervention. While further tests are underway to determine if the cancer has spread, Vatican sources stated that the cancerous tissue was completely removed and no immediate plans for chemotherapy have been announced.

The diagnosis has drawn an outpouring of prayers and support worldwide from political leaders, religious figures, and the public. At Gemelli hospital, patients and visitors have offered prayers, and pilgrimages to St. Peter’s Square have included special Masses and calls for continued spiritual support. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led Mass on October 14 in place of the pope, with appeals for a swift recovery included during the prayers.

Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025 as the first American pontiff, is considered relatively young and physically active, with no known history of smoking or recent major health issues. The pope’s planned 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, scheduled for November, remains unchanged according to Vatican officials. His family history includes cancer; his mother died from the disease, and his brother, who also has cancer, expressed confidence in the pope’s recovery.

The pope holds supreme authority within the Catholic Church, which encompasses 1.4 billion faithful worldwide, and does not have an official deputy. During his recuperation, the Vatican’s administration continues its functions, deferring decisions that require papal approval.

While the Vatican has been relatively transparent about Pope Leo’s condition compared to past papal health disclosures, it has withheld certain clinical details such as the tumour’s size and involvement of lymph nodes, critical elements in assessing prognosis. Medical experts have noted that early-stage lung adenocarcinoma generally has a favorable outlook when treated promptly.

Global leaders have extended messages of sympathy and prayer. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted his support for the American-born pope and wished him strength for recovery. The pope’s illness has prompted reflection on the uncertainties surrounding the future leadership of the Catholic Church, but the general tone from officials and observers remains hopeful.