Vatican Confirms Pope Leo XIV's Lung Cancer Diagnosis
The Holy See Press Office 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 himself had previously disclosed to the public.
The medical bulletin released by the Vatican said a histological examination during the operation confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from preoperative tests. Adenocarcinoma develops in the glandular cells of the lung.
"The surgery was successful, and there were no complications," the Vatican said in its statement. The 71-year-old pontiff spent about three hours in the operating room, with the surgical procedure itself lasting roughly 90 minutes.
90-Minute Operation Using Thoracoscopic Technique
To ensure radical removal of the tumor, the team removed the lower lobe of the pope's right lung using a video-assisted thoracoscopic technique — a minimally invasive procedure. According to the Vatican, preoperative tests had already given the team information about the affected area's location.
The operation was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital, assisted by Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr. Maria Teresa Congedo, and Dr. Leonardo Petracca Ciavarella. The anesthesia team was led by Professor Massimo Antonelli.
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 its main entrance and waved to well-wishers gathered outside to greet him.
The Pope Disclosed the Nodule at the Angelus Prayer
The pope's health news did not come as a complete surprise. A week earlier, he himself disclosed in his Angelus prayer that recent medical examinations had found a small, localized lung nodule and that he had decided to have it removed.
The pope's transparency about his health drew wide attention, with around 80 million Catholics in the Philippines — Asia's largest Catholic nation — following the developments closely. In the days before his hospital stay, the pope kept a normal schedule.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that after the operation, the pope asked for dinner and spent the evening with his secretaries and other Vatican staff. He returned to his room on the hospital's 10th floor after a brief observation period, on the same floor that houses a suite long reserved for popes.
Public Events Canceled Through October 20
The Vatican has announced no change to 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 canceled through October 20.
What has not been announced is the cancer's stage, whether it has spread to the lymph nodes, and whether the pope will need further treatment such as chemotherapy. Further examinations of the removed tissue will be conducted in the coming days.
The Vatican said it will provide updates on the pope's health from the hospital. This is a pivotal moment for the global Catholic Church, with 1.4 billion faithful awaiting certainty about their spiritual leader's condition.
