Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Cancer After Vatican Says Surgery Was Successful
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing surgery to remove part of his right lung, the Holy See announced Tuesday, October 13. The operation, described as planned and successful, removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung and confirmed a suspected case of lung adenocarcinoma.
In a statement from the Holy See Press Office, officials said the pope underwent thoracic surgery using a video-assisted technique. “To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of his right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique,” the statement read. “An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the preoperative examinations.”
The Vatican said the pontiff was in the operating room for approximately three hours, with the operation itself lasting about 90 minutes. “The operation was successful, and there were no complications,” the statement continued. “The Holy Father was in the operating room for approximately three hours; the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes. Leo awoke normally from surgery and returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor following an observation period.”
Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. It is a form of cancer that develops in the glandular cells lining the lungs and can occur in different patterns. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common category of lung cancer, and adenocarcinoma accounts for a substantial share of those cases. The condition is often detected when a nodule or mass is found during imaging scans, and treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapies, depending on the stage and characteristics of the tumor.
The announcement came two days after the pope revealed that he was planning to undergo surgery for a lung nodule. Speaking outside St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 11, Pope Leo said the nodule had been detected at a very early stage and was well-defined. “The doctors deem it advisable to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” he said, according to CNN.
Pulmonary nodules are abnormal growths in the lung, and the Cleveland Clinic notes that they are often noncancerous. The growths seldom cause symptoms, except in certain cases of chest pain, shortness of breath, chronic cough, fatigue or recurring respiratory infections. In the pope’s case, the nodule was found early enough that doctors recommended surgery rather than other treatments.
At the time of the original report, further details about Leo’s condition had not been publicly revealed, and the Vatican said it would continue to function as usual while the pope recovered. The statement from the Holy See Press Office did not indicate how long the pope would remain hospitalized or when he might return to the Vatican, but officials indicated that the procedure had gone according to plan.
The news adds a serious health chapter to a papacy that began with historic significance. Leo was elected in May 2025, after the death of Pope Francis. Francis, who served as the 266th pope, died one month before the conclave at the age of 88. Cardinals from around the world gathered in Rome and chose Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost, to lead the Catholic Church. Leo is the first American-born pope in the history of the church.
In his first address after his election, Leo thanked the cardinals and emphasized unity and purpose. “Thank you to my Cardinal brothers who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the gospel,” he said. “I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian. He said, ‘With you I am a Christian, for you a bishop.’ So, may we all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.”
Days later, Leo celebrated his first mass as pope and delivered an impassioned sermon, describing the mission of the church and his own role. “You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community, as friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news to announce the Gospel,” he said. He also warned of the dangers of a lack of faith, which he said is accompanied by “the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family, and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”
The pope’s health has been a subject of global attention since the beginning of his papacy. His predecessor’s final years were marked by serious illness, including double pneumonia and other complications. The Vatican has historically been cautious in disclosing details about papal health, and the statements released this week have been relatively measured, emphasizing that the surgery was planned and successful.
Medical experts not involved in the pope’s care said that the removal of the lower lobe of the right lung is a significant operation, but one that can be well tolerated, especially when a tumor is caught early. Video-assisted thoracic surgery, or VATS, is a minimally invasive technique that allows surgeons to remove tissue through small incisions rather than a large opening in the chest. The approach often reduces pain and shortens recovery time, though chest surgery of this kind still requires careful postoperative care.
The Vatican’s statement that the operation lasted about 90 minutes and that the pope returned to his room after observation suggests that he tolerated the procedure well. The confirmation of adenocarcinoma, however, means that further decisions about follow-up treatment are likely. Depending on the stage of the cancer, doctors may consider additional treatments to reduce the risk of recurrence. Those details have not been made public.
For now, the Catholic Church and the wider world are left to await updates from the Holy See. In the immediate term, the Vatican has signaled that its daily operations will continue as planned. The pope’s hospital stay is expected to be observed by his closest aides, and the church’s diplomatic and pastoral activities are likely to go on without interruption. The long-term implications of the diagnosis will become clearer in the days and weeks ahead as doctors assess the results of the surgery and determine whether any further treatment is needed.
Pope Leo XIV’s papacy has already been defined by a call to mission and a commitment to peace and justice. His response to this health challenge has been in keeping with the calm and faith-focused tone he has used since his election. As he recovers from surgery, he has asked the world, through his words and actions, to accompany him in prayer and continue walking together toward the homeland that God has prepared.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
