Photo: Vatican NewsStatue of St. John Paul II in front the Gemelli Hospital in Rome (ANSA)By Yiannis Damellos and Mars Strangelove Jr.October 13, 2026Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing successful surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican announced Tuesday.
The 71-year-old Pope underwent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after doctors discovered a localized nodule in his lung during medical examinations. The Vatican said the operation lasted approximately 90 minutes and was completed without complications.
A subsequent examination of the removed tissue confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.
According to the medical bulletin, the Pope regained consciousness normally after the operation and returned to his hospital room following a brief period of observation.
Leo had announced on Sunday that surgery was imminent, explaining that doctors had discovered a small, localized lung nodule and recommended removing it. At the time, he said it had been detected at a very early stage.
The cancer diagnosis was confirmed in the medical information released after the procedure.
The prognosis remains a key unanswered question. The Vatican has not disclosed the cancer’s precise stage or whether it had spread beyond the removed lung tissue. Further medical findings will be important in determining whether additional treatment is necessary.
The Pope is expected to remain in hospital for approximately a week, and his public engagements have been cancelled through October 20.
His health also raises questions about his planned November 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. No definitive change to the trip has been announced.
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