Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer after surgery in Rome
ROME — Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery Tuesday to remove a small nodule from his right lung, the Vatican said, marking the first major health scare of his 17-month papacy.
The 71-year-old pope had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during the procedure at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the same hospital long associated with papal medical care. Vatican officials said the surgery was completed successfully and without reported complications.
Doctors said tissue examined during the operation confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer. The Vatican described the nodule as early-stage and localized, and doctors indicated the surgery was intended to remove the cancerous tissue completely. No chemotherapy was immediately planned, according to early Vatican reporting.
Leo had disclosed Sunday that doctors had found a “localized nodule” in his lung and said he would undergo surgery in the coming days. He arrived at Gemelli on Tuesday and was seen greeting hospital staff before the operation.
The Vatican said the pope is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week. His public audiences and events have been canceled through Oct. 20 while he recovers.
The diagnosis comes at a sensitive moment for the Catholic Church, as Leo is still early in his papacy after being elected in May 2025. He is the first American-born pope and had been regarded as physically active and in generally good health.
For now, Vatican officials appear to be stressing two points: the cancer was found early, and the operation went according to plan. That is about as good as a grim medical bulletin can get without putting a choir behind it.
Still, the pope’s upcoming schedule is now in question, including a planned 12-day trip to South America in November. Vatican officials have not canceled the trip, but recovery from lung surgery tends to have its own vote in the matter.
The episode also carries an echo of recent Vatican history. Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, had repeated respiratory problems and was treated at Gemelli before his death in April 2025. Leo’s condition is different, but the image of another pope in a Roman hospital will inevitably stir concern among Catholics worldwide.
For the moment, the official word is guarded optimism: cancer confirmed, surgery successful, recovery underway.
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