Pope Leo XIV, 71, has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after doctors successfully removed a lower lobe of his right lung during surgery on Tuesday, the Vatican announced. The pontiff is recovering well at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, with all public engagements canceled until October 20th as he is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week.
Vatican City — Pope Leo XIV, the 71-year-old pontiff, has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma following a successful surgery on Tuesday during which doctors removed a lower lobe of his right lung, according to a medical bulletin released by the Vatican.
Tissue tests conducted during the operation at Rome's Gemelli hospital confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, aligning with preliminary suspicions from preparatory examinations. The Vatican had initially announced the surgery's success earlier on Tuesday evening, followed by a more comprehensive update from Professor Stefano Margaritora, chief of thoracic surgery at Gemelli.
"In order to make the procedure curative, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique," Professor Margaritora stated in his update. He further confirmed, "A rapid intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as had been suspected from the pre-operative tests." The surgery, lasting approximately 90 minutes, concluded without complications, and the Pope has since awoken normally, now resting in his hospital room.
Week-long Hospital Stay Anticipated
Pope Leo left the Vatican for the hospital shortly before 1 p.m. (1100 GMT), waving from a black SUV during the 9 km (5.6 miles) journey. Upon arrival, he greeted officials and well-wishers, some of whom offered shouts of 'Auguri' (best wishes), before entering through the main entrance.
The Vatican has indicated that the Pope is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week. Consequently, all his public engagements have been cancelled until October 20. Elected in May 2025, Pope Leo, who is relatively young for a Church leader, is known for his active lifestyle, including an enjoyment of sports like tennis, and has no known history of smoking or recent significant health issues.
His predecessor, the late Pope Francis, had faced multiple hospitalizations due to frailty in his later years, passing away in April 2025 at the age of 88. Despite his recent health challenge, Pope Leo, who spoke with a firm, clear voice at his most recent public event on Monday, maintains a demanding schedule, including an upcoming 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru scheduled from November 6 to 17.
Papal Authority and Past Health Challenges
As the ultimate earthly authority for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, the Pope does not have a designated deputy to assume duties during illness. In such instances, the vast bureaucracy of the Vatican continues its operations, postponing only those decisions requiring direct papal approval.
Born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo served for decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru. He recounted a severe bout of typhoid fever in 1985 in Chulucanas, Peru, during which he was hospitalized and asked God to end his suffering. He interpreted his survival as a divine sign for his continued mission on Earth, stating in a book for Penguin Peru, "I never looked back."
