Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer after part of right lung removed

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican has announced.

The 71-year-old pontiff underwent the planned operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday after doctors discovered a growth during a recent routine health examination.

Tissue examined during the operation confirmed that the growth was lung adenocarcinoma, one of the most common forms of lung cancer.

Surgery completed without complications

The Vatican said surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung using a video-assisted technique intended to eliminate all suspicious tissue.

“To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique,” the medical bulletin said.

The operation lasted approximately 90 minutes, although the Pope spent about three hours in the operating theatre.

Doctors said the surgery was successful and there were no complications. Pope Leo awoke normally from the anaesthetic and returned to his hospital room following a brief period of observation.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said the Pope later requested dinner and spent the evening with his secretaries and other Vatican staff.

Further tests will determine cancer’s stage

Doctors had suspected cancer from examinations conducted before the operation, but the diagnosis was confirmed through an intraoperative tissue analysis.

“An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the preoperative examinations,” the medical team said.

Further examination of the removed tissue and lymph nodes will be needed to establish the cancer’s stage and determine whether it has spread.

The Vatican has not announced whether Pope Leo will require chemotherapy, immunotherapy or any other treatment. Medical experts said those decisions would depend on the results of the remaining tests.

Dr Stephen Liu, a lung cancer specialist at Georgetown University, told the Associated Press that adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer and can have a favourable prognosis when detected early.

“While we know the diagnosis, we now need to know the stage,” he said.

Pope expected to remain in hospital

Pope Leo is expected to remain at Gemelli Hospital for approximately one week while recovering.

The Vatican has cancelled his public engagements until 20 October. An update on his recovery and any available test results is expected from the Holy See.

It remains unclear whether the diagnosis will affect the Pope’s planned 11-day visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November.

The trip is scheduled to begin on 6 November and would involve several long-distance flights and a demanding itinerary. Doctors commonly advise patients to avoid air travel for several weeks following lung surgery.

Pope Leo, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, was elected in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis. This is the first major health problem publicly disclosed during his papacy.

Despite his hospitalisation, he remains the leader of the Catholic Church. Under canon law, papal authority continues unless a pope dies or voluntarily resigns.