Pope Leo Has Part of Right Lung Removed as Doctors Confirm Lung Cancer

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on Tuesday, 13 October. A postoperative medical bulletin confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer.

The Vatican said the operation was completed successfully and as planned, with no complications reported. The 71-year-old pontiff returned to his hospital room following the procedure. According to the medical bulletin, he spent about three hours in the operating room, including approximately 90 minutes undergoing surgery.

Surgeons Confirm Lung Adenocarcinoma

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on Tuesday, 13 October. A postoperative medical bulletin confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer.

The Vatican said the operation was completed successfully and as planned, with no complications reported. The 71-year-old pontiff returned to his hospital room following the procedure. According to the medical bulletin, he spent about three hours in the operating room, including approximately 90 minutes undergoing surgery.

Surgeons Confirm Lung Adenocarcinoma

The lower lobe of Pope Leo's right lung was removed using a minimally invasive, video-assisted surgical technique. The procedure was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli's chief thoracic surgeon, working with Dr Luigi Carbone, the Vatican's director of health and hygiene.

The postoperative medical bulletin said an examination of the tissue during surgery confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from preoperative tests. The procedure was described as successful, with no complications reported.

The diagnosis confirms that the nodule was cancerous, but the extent of the disease has not been fully established publicly. Further assessment, including the results of tests on lymph nodes, will help determine whether the cancer has spread and whether additional treatment is necessary.

The successful removal of the affected lung lobe does not, by itself, establish a long-term prognosis. Although the nodule had previously been described as small and localised, its initial appearance should not be treated as a definitive assessment of the cancer's stage.

Pope Disclosed Nodule Before Surgery

Pope Leo disclosed the lung finding during his Angelus address on Sunday, 11 October. The Angelus is a regular midday prayer led by the Pope, traditionally before crowds gathered in St Peter's Square.

He said doctors had discovered a small lung nodule during medical examinations and recommended removing it. He described the finding as having been detected 'at a very early stage' and as 'well-contained'.

A lung nodule is a small area of abnormal tissue that can have several causes, including infection, inflammation or cancer. Most lung nodules are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. Their discovery alone does not establish a cancer diagnosis.

In Pope Leo's case, examination of the tissue removed during surgery confirmed malignancy. The postoperative findings therefore provided information that had not been established by the initial announcement of the nodule.

The Vatican had announced the planned procedure in advance, saying the operation would be carried out by Gemelli's thoracic surgery team under Margaritora's leadership. Pope Leo arrived at the hospital on Tuesday and greeted staff and well-wishers before entering the building.

Hospital Stay Expected to Last About a Week

The Vatican said Pope Leo was expected to remain in hospital for approximately a week following surgery. His public audiences have been cancelled through 20 October to allow time for recovery.

The admission is the first hospitalisation of his pontificate, which began with his election in May 2025. However, it is not his first known hospital stay. According to the Associated Press, Pope Leo was hospitalised for typhoid fever in Peru in 1985, when he was serving as a missionary.

Gemelli has longstanding links with the papacy and has treated several popes. Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, spent an extended period at the hospital in 2025 while receiving treatment for pneumonia.

Pope Leo is expected to stay in a hospital room near the papal apartment, which is undergoing renovation, per a report by AP. The dedicated suite has traditionally been used by popes receiving treatment at Gemelli.

November Journey Depends on Recovery

Before the surgery, Pope Leo was scheduled to make an apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November. An apostolic journey is an official visit undertaken by the Pope in his role as head of the Catholic Church.

The planned itinerary involves extensive travel, and the Pope's recovery will be an important factor in determining whether the trip proceeds as scheduled. No cancellation should be inferred solely from the surgery or the current hospital stay.

Peru has particular significance in Pope Leo's life and ministry. Before becoming Pope, he served there as a missionary and later as bishop of Chiclayo. He was also hospitalised in Peru in 1985 after contracting typhoid fever.

The published itinerary remains the planned schedule, rather than confirmation that the Pope will be medically fit to travel in November. His immediate recovery and the results of further medical assessments will help determine the next steps, including whether additional treatment is required and whether the South American journey can proceed.