Pope Leo XIV undergoes successful lung cancer surgery at Rome hospital

Pope Leo XIV has undergone successful surgery to remove part of his right lung after doctors diagnosed him with lung cancer. The Vatican announced on October 13, 2026, that the 71-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during an operation lasting about 90 minutes at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. Medical staff performed the procedure after detecting a nodule during routine checks, and subsequent tissue tests confirmed the condition is lung adenocarcinoma, which is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer.

Recovery And Events

The operation went smoothly without any complications, and the pontiff woke up normally before returning to his room to rest. According to the Vatican, he is expected to stay in the hospital for about a week to recover. All of his public events have been cancelled until October 20. The Pope had previously shared the news with the public on Sunday from the balcony in St Peter's Square, explaining that doctors advised him to remove the growth found at an early stage. Well-wishers and crowds gathered outside the hospital to cheer and wave as he arrived.

Context

Lung adenocarcinoma is a form of cancer that originates in the tiny air sacs of the lungs known as alveoli. Public figures like the Pope undergo regular medical supervision, which often helps catch health issues early before they show severe physical symptoms. The pontiff has a planned tour of South America in November, though officials have not yet confirmed if that schedule will change following his surgery.