Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Adenocarcinoma After Surgery Removes Lower Lobe of Right Lung

Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery on 13 October 2026 at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic that confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma and removed the lower lobe of his right lung.

The operation used a video-assisted technique. Surgeons led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli, removed the entire lower lobe to ensure a radical resection of the tumor and surrounding tissue. The Holy Father spent about three hours in the operating room. The surgery itself lasted approximately 90 minutes. The Vatican stated there were no complications. He woke normally and returned to his room on the hospital’s tenth floor after a brief period of observation.

A medical bulletin issued by Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal physician, and Professor Margaritora stated that an intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma that preoperative tests had already suspected. The nodule had been detected during routine checks and announced by the pope himself after the Angelus on 11 October. He described it as small, localized, and detected at a very early stage.

The 71-year-old American pontiff walked into the hospital through the main entrance earlier on 13 October and waved to well-wishers. All public audiences through 20 October were canceled. Vatican sources indicated he requested dinner after the procedure and spent a quiet night. Further postoperative tests were underway on 14 October to determine whether additional treatment would be required.

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer. Medical specialists not involved in the case noted that when caught early and fully resected, the prognosis is generally favorable. The Vatican has not announced chemotherapy or radiation at this stage. The decision on further therapy will depend on the precise size and characteristics of the tumor, any involvement of lymph nodes, and genetic markers from the removed tissue.

This is the first major health disclosure of Leo’s 17-month papacy. He was elected on 8 May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis. The Vatican has provided a higher level of detail than was customary under earlier pontiffs, continuing a shift toward greater transparency that began during Francis’s illnesses. Gemelli Hospital has a long association with the Holy See. Pope John Paul II spent extended periods there and referred to the tenth-floor suite as Vatican Three.

The surgery took place against a background of continued diplomatic activity. Leo had planned travel to South America in the coming months. The Vatican has not yet indicated whether those plans will be adjusted. Cardinals and world leaders issued statements of support and prayers on 13 and 14 October. The pope’s recovery will be monitored closely over the next several days.

Early-stage resection of a localized adenocarcinoma offers the best chance of long-term control. Follow-up imaging and pathology results expected in the coming days will clarify whether the margins were clear and whether any adjuvant therapy is indicated. The public medical bulletin marks a deliberate choice by the Holy See to release concrete surgical details rather than general reassurances.