The Pope has lung cancer and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during surgery in Rome, the Vatican has said.
The tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin, after Leo XIV had an operation on Tuesday.
It said the diagnosis had been suspected by preoperative tests and was confirmed during the operation.
Pope Leo XIV underwent thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, as planned, according to a statement from Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora released by the Holy See Press Office.
The surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung,… pic.twitter.com/DL9b6p9T1H
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 13, 2026
The 71-year-old was in the operating theatre for about three hours, the statement said.
The surgery itself lasted approximately 90 minutes.
“The surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” the statement added.
Leo had walked into Rome’s Gemelli hospital through the main entrance earlier in the day and waved to dozens of well-wishers who had gathered to greet him.
The Vatican said the surgery would be performed by a team led by Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon, Dr Stefano Margaritora.
The American pontiff has offered a rare level of transparency about the first publicly disclosed major health problem of his 17-month papacy.
He revealed the discovery of the small, localised nodule during his Sunday noon prayer and announced that he would have it removed.
Oncologists said prior to the operation that even if the nodule turned out to be cancerous, Leo’s prognosis is “excellent” since it will have been removed at an early stage.
On Monday, the Vatican cancelled all Leo’s audiences through until October 20.
While Gemelli has a specific papal apartment that past popes have used, complete with a private chapel on the 10th floor, Leo will actually be staying in a nearby room since the papal apartment is currently undergoing renovations, according to the Vatican press office.
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