Vatican Confirms Pope Leo XIV's Lung Cancer Diagnosis
The Holy See Press Office has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer following scheduled thoracic surgery at Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on Tuesday (10/13). The operation removed a small, localized lung nodule that the Pope had previously disclosed to the public himself.
A Vatican medical bulletin said intraoperative histological examination confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from pre-operative tests. Adenocarcinoma is a cancer that develops from the glandular cells of the lungs.
"The operation was successful, with no complications," the Vatican statement said. The 71-year-old Pope spent about three hours in the operating room, with the surgery itself lasting roughly 90 minutes.
90-Minute Surgery Using Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy
To ensure radical removal of the tumor, the medical team removed the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery — a minimally invasive procedure that lets surgeons operate with camera guidance. According to the Vatican, pre-operative tests had given the team detailed information on the affected area and how to treat it.
The operation was led by Prof. Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital, assisted by Prof. Elisa Meacci, Dr. Maria Teresa Congedo, and Dr. Leonardo Petracca Ciavarella. The anesthesia team was led by Prof. Massimo Antonelli alongside Dr. Giovanni Punzo and Dr. Giuseppe Bello.
The medical bulletin was signed by the Pope's personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, together with Margaritora. Before the procedure, Pope Leo XIV entered the hospital through the main entrance and waved to well-wishers gathered outside to greet him.
Pope Disclosed the Nodule During the Angelus
The Pope's health news did not come out of the blue for Catholics. A week earlier, Pope Leo XIV himself had revealed during the Angelus — the Vatican's regular Sunday blessing — that a recent medical check had found a small, localized nodule in his lung and that he had decided to have it removed.
The Pope's transparency about his health drew wide attention, with some 80 million Catholics in the Philippines — Asia's largest Catholic nation — following the developments closely. In the days before his hospitalization, the Pope had kept to his normal schedule.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that after the surgery the Pope asked for dinner and spent the evening with his secretaries and other Vatican staff. He has returned to his room on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital after a brief observation period — the same floor as the suite long reserved for popes.
Public Events Cancelled Through October 20
The Vatican has not changed the care plan: Pope Leo XIV is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week. All public events, including general audiences, prayers, and meetings, are cancelled through October 20.
What remains undisclosed is the cancer's stage, whether it has spread to the lymph nodes, and whether the Pope will need further treatment such as chemotherapy. Doctors have not discussed chemotherapy or similar treatment at this stage. Further examination of the removed tissue will be carried out over the coming days.
The Vatican said it will provide health updates on the Pope from the hospital. The development marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church worldwide, with 1.4 billion faithful awaiting certainty about the condition of their spiritual leader.
