Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where doctors confirmed he has lung adenocarcinoma following the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican announced that the procedure, which lasted approximately 90 minutes within a three-hour operation, was successful and without complications.
The diagnosis was initially suspected from preoperative tests and was confirmed during surgery, according to a Vatican medical bulletin. The statement described the removal of the lung lobe as “radical,” indicating that surgeons aimed to excise all potentially cancerous tissue. The Vatican did not provide details on subsequent treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation, and noted that no such plans had currently been discussed.
The 71-year-old pontiff entered the hospital under clear skies and acknowledged dozens of well-wishers before the operation, which was led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli. This marks the first major health issue publicly disclosed during Leo’s 17-month tenure as pope, who chose to reveal the discovery of a small lung nodule during a recent Sunday prayer service.
Medical experts expressed optimism regarding the prognosis, given the early stage and localized nature of the tumor. Oncologists highlighted that if the cancer was confined to the excised tissue, the prognosis remains favorable. The Vatican canceled all of Pope Leo’s audiences through October 20 to allow for recovery.
Though the pontiff customarily stays in a papal apartment at Gemelli, this year he is residing nearby due to ongoing renovations. His upcoming overseas trip slated for early November includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. Oncologists generally recommend patients avoid flying for three weeks post-surgery, which would potentially allow the pope to proceed with his itinerary, pending his recovery.
The schedule calls for extensive travel, including about 19,000 miles over a dozen flights, two helicopter rides, and significant altitude changes, particularly in Peru. Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu of Tokyo, who met with Leo on Monday, emphasized that the pope’s decision to undergo surgery promptly was aimed at minimizing disruption to his travel plans and maintaining stable health.
Lung nodules, the small abnormal growth detected on a CT scan, can appear incidentally during evaluations for trauma or infection. Surgical removal is typically recommended both to confirm diagnosis and to manage localized malignancies effectively.
This episode marks only the second known hospitalization for Pope Leo XIV, who is noted for his active lifestyle, including regular tennis and swimming. Earlier in his life, as a missionary priest in Peru during 1985, he contracted typhoid fever, an experience that deepened his commitment to serving impoverished communities—a commitment that has shaped his path to the papacy.