Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Cancer After Surgeons Remove Lower Lobe of Right Lung

Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung during a 90-minute operation on Tuesday at Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin released late that evening.

The 71-year-old American pontiff entered the hospital around 1 p.m. local time. He walked through the main entrance and waved to well-wishers gathered outside. The surgery itself lasted approximately 90 minutes. He remained in the operating room for about three hours in total. Doctors led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, chief of thoracic surgery at Gemelli, used a video-assisted technique to remove the entire lower lobe. This approach aimed to clear all suspect tissue.

Intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of non-small cell lung cancer. Preoperative tests had already raised suspicion of this finding. The Vatican stated the operation was successful and there were no complications. Leo regained consciousness normally and returned to his room on the hospital's 10th floor. He is expected to stay about one week for recovery. The Holy See canceled his audiences through October 20.

Leo first disclosed the nodule himself. During the Angelus address on Sunday, October 11, he told the crowd in St. Peter's Square that doctors had found a small, localized nodule during routine checks. He described it as detected at a very early stage and well-contained. He said he had decided to follow medical advice and have it removed. This marked the first major public health disclosure of his 17-month papacy.

Medical specialists outside the Vatican noted that early-stage adenocarcinoma, when fully resected, carries a favorable prognosis. Patients can live normal lives after losing a lobe of one lung because the remaining lung tissue compensates. The Vatican has not yet detailed further treatment plans such as chemotherapy or radiation. Those decisions will depend on the size of the removed mass, its genetic profile, and whether any spread is detected in follow-up tests expected in the coming days.

Gemelli Hospital has treated previous popes. John Paul II underwent multiple operations there. Leo's transparency about the procedure stands in contrast to more guarded medical updates from earlier pontificates. The Holy See Press Office said early post-operative exams should become available late on October 14.

Catholics gathered outside the hospital for prayer. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, led a rosary in the hospital chapel while the operation was underway. Messages of support arrived from church leaders and governments worldwide. The diagnosis arrives at a moment when Leo has focused his early papacy on continuity with Francis while addressing internal church questions and global conflicts.

The lower lobe of the right lung handles a smaller share of total lung capacity than the upper lobes. Removal leaves most respiratory function intact for a person of Leo's age and general health, according to thoracic surgeons who spoke to news agencies after the bulletin. The Vatican has not released the precise dimensions of the nodule or the stage classification. Those details will shape the next steps in his care.