According to the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV had surgery on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, confirming that he had lung cancer.
Following the procedure, the Vatican released a medical bulletin stating that tests verified a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. It stated that the diagnosis was verified after surgery after being suspected by preoperative diagnostics.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What Happened | Pope Leo XIV underwent lung surgery to remove a cancerous growth. |
| Location | Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy |
| Date | October 13, 2026 |
| Diagnosis | Lung adenocarcinoma |
| Person Involved | Pope Leo XIV |
| Current Status | Recovering after surgery, with further test results pending. |
| Next Step | Doctors will assess the results to determine whether further treatment is needed. |
The Vatican stated that doctors were not currently discussing chemotherapy or other medicines pending the results of further testing, and the message made no mention of future treatment. The medical statement’s reference to the “radical” removal of the lobe, according to the Vatican press office, indicates that the surgeons excised all suspicious tissue in an effort to eradicate any remaining cancerous tissue.
Leo’s lymph nodes would have also been removed and examined to see if the cancer had spread, but the results of those tests were still unknown.
Doctors Await Lung Cancer Staging Results
According to Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer specialist at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, “adenocarcinoma is the most common (type of lung cancer) and also has the most favorable prognosis.” “We now need to know the stage even though we know the diagnosis.”
We now need to determine its size and the number of lung areas affected. Are there multiple nodules or simply one, and are the lymph nodes malignant? Liu remarked.
The Vatican says the surgery was successful
According to the Vatican statement, the 71-year-old spent almost three hours in the operation room. The actual procedure took about ninety minutes.
The statement stated that the pope later went back to his room and that “the surgery was successful, and there were no complications.”
Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Successful Lung Surgery
According to the Vatican statement, the 71-year-old spent almost three hours in the operation room. The actual procedure took about ninety minutes.
The statement stated that the pope later went back to his room and that “the surgery was successful, and there were no complications.”
The left lung has two lobes, whereas the right lung has three. Particularly in otherwise healthy and extremely active individuals, the remaining lung might progressively compensate when one lobe is removed.
