Leo XIV undergoes surgery as Vatican confirms lung cancer

Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic. Surgeons removed a lesion from his right lung, and the Vatican said the procedure ended successfully. A histological examination performed during surgery identified a malignant pulmonary adenocarcinoma, according to the medical report released by the Holy See. The same statement said there were no complications and that the pontiff returned to his room after waking normally.

Two days earlier, Leo XIV had disclosed that doctors found a lung nodule during routine examinations. He said the growth was localized and detected at an early stage, so specialists recommended removing it. Tuesday’s operation removed the lower lobe of the right lung using a video-assisted technique, according to the official report. The surgery lasted about 90 minutes, although the pope spent about three hours in the operating room.

After surgery, the pontiff spent a brief period under observation before returning to his room on the hospital’s tenth floor. The Vatican expects him to remain hospitalized for about a week. Leo XIV, 71, woke normally, according to officials. His audiences and public activities were temporarily suspended during recovery.

The operation comes as preparations continue for a pastoral trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru scheduled for November 6–17. The visit was among the pontiff’s international commitments, but no final cancellation was announced. Whether it proceeds will depend on his recovery and subsequent medical decisions. Public activities remain suspended during the expected convalescence.