Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Cancer After Surgery
Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican announced Tuesday, marking the first publicly disclosed major health problem of his 17-month papacy. The Pope Leo XIV lung cancer diagnosis — lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of the disease — was confirmed by tissue examination during the operation, according to a Vatican medical bulletin.
The 71-year-old pontiff was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, for what had been presented as the planned removal of a small lung nodule discovered during a recent routine health check. The pope revealed the discovery himself during Sunday’s noon Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, in a notably transparent update on papal health. “The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” he told the faithful, thanking them for their support and prayers.
Pope Leo XIV lung cancer: how the diagnosis was made
According to the bulletin, issued by the Holy See Press Office after the operation, doctors had suspected lung adenocarcinoma from preoperative tests, and the diagnosis was confirmed during surgery. The surgical team performed a video-assisted “radical resection” — meaning surgeons aimed to remove all suspect tissue in the hope of eliminating any lingering traces of the cancer, the Vatican press office noted.
The procedure was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli, together with the pope’s personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone. The operation itself lasted about 90 minutes, with the pontiff in the operating room for roughly three hours. “The surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” the Vatican statement said.
The pope “woke up normally” after the anesthesia and, following a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor, according to the medical bulletin. The Vatican said he is resting well and even asked for dinner — a reassuring detail in the first hours of recovery.
Pope Leo XIV lung cancer recovery: a week in hospital expected
The Vatican had said previously that the pope was expected to spend about a week in hospital recovering. All of Leo’s public audiences have been cancelled through Oct. 20, and a spokesman said the schedule will be reassessed as he recovers.
Notably, the pontiff will not be staying in the famous papal apartment on Gemelli’s 10th floor — the same suite used by past popes, complete with a private chapel — because it is currently undergoing renovations. He is instead resting in a nearby room, according to the Vatican press office.
Before the operation, Leo was greeted by hospital leaders when he arrived shortly before 1 p.m. local time, walking in through the hospital’s main entrance and waving to dozens of well-wishers who had gathered to greet him. The Associated Press reported that medical staff recited the Rosary in the hospital chapel before the procedure began, citing two people familiar with the plans.
Pope Leo XIV lung cancer: what happens next
Critical questions about the pope’s prognosis remain unanswered. The Vatican did not disclose the cancer’s stage or say whether the disease has spread. Further tests are pending to determine the extent of the cancer and whether follow-up treatment — such as chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy — will be needed. According to Al Jazeera, the Vatican said doctors are not currently discussing such therapies pending the results of those tests.
Medical experts stress that staging is the key unknown. Dr. Stephen Liu, chief of thoracic medical oncology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, told Reuters that determining the stage is critical to understanding the prognosis — a point that will define how the Vatican manages both the pope’s health and public communication in the coming weeks.
For now, the bulletin described the resection as “radical,” an indication that surgeons believe they removed all visible and suspect tissue. Whether that alone proves curative is unconfirmed; the Vatican has promised further updates as test results arrive. Additional reporting on the operation and recovery notes the pope is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week.
Reactions from around the world
News of the diagnosis drew swift reactions from political leaders. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a practicing Catholic, posted on X that he was “united in prayer” for the pontiff. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sent his “thoughts and prayers” to the pope.
The announcement also interrupted a busy papal schedule. Leo, the first American pontiff, had been maintaining a full calendar of audiences, meetings and travel — including his recent France visit with a stop at the Marian shrine of Lourdes — before all audiences were cancelled through Oct. 20. The health news broke during a week crowded with global developments, including the announcement of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Navi Pillay.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of cancer does Pope Leo XIV have?
According to the Vatican’s medical bulletin, he was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma — a common type of lung cancer that begins in the glandular cells of the lungs — after the lower lobe of his right lung was removed and the tissue examined during surgery on Oct. 13, 2026.
How long will the pope stay in the hospital?
The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV is expected to remain at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for about a week to recover. All of his audiences have been cancelled through Oct. 20.
Will the pope need chemotherapy or radiation?
That is unconfirmed. The Vatican said the cancer’s stage is not yet known, and further tests are still pending to determine whether the disease has spread. Doctors are not currently discussing chemotherapy or other therapies until those results arrive, according to the Vatican.
How serious is the diagnosis?
Experts say the stage of the cancer is the critical unknown. The Vatican described the operation as a “radical resection,” meaning surgeons aimed to remove all suspect tissue, but whether further treatment will be required remains to be determined by pending tests.
This is a developing story. The Nerdy Humourist will update this article as the Vatican releases further medical bulletins on the pope’s condition and treatment plan.
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