US vice president reacts to Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer diagnosis: "God grant him strength"

• The Holy See Press Office confirmed Pope Leo XIV underwent thoracic surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung
• An intraoperative examination during the roughly 90-minute procedure confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma
• US Vice President JD Vance publicly called for prayers for the Pope's full recovery on Wednesday, October 14

Nancy Odindo is a current affairs writer at Tuko.co.ke (joined in 2023). She has one year of experience in print and more than five years in digital media.

United States Vice President JD Vance has expressed best recovery wishes to Pope Leo XIV, who successfully underwent thoracic surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after a confirmed diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, with Vatican officials reporting that his postoperative recovery is proceeding normally.

The Holy See Press Office announced that surgeons used a video-assisted technique to perform a radical resection of the affected lung tissue.

The procedure kept the Pope in the operating room for approximately three hours, with the operation itself lasting around 90 minutes. Doctors confirmed there were no complications.

Pope Leo XIV's condition stable after surgery

A follow-up update issued by the Holy See Press Office through Vatican News on Thursday, October 15, 2026, indicated that routine checks had returned normal results.

A chest X-ray showed the operated lung was recovering well, and the Pope had carried out his daily activities independently. His physiotherapy sessions were reported to include a full range of physical activities.

"His postoperative recovery is progressing normally," the Holy See Press Office said in the statement.

The adenocarcinoma diagnosis had been suspected before the operation, with the intraoperative histological examination serving to confirm what preoperative assessments had already indicated.

JD Vance offers prayers for Pope's recovery

The surgery drew international attention, including a public statement from Vance, who addressed the matter on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

"Our family continues to pray for the good health and full recovery of Pope Leo XIV. May God grant him strength as he works to get better. I hope he knows that millions of American Christians are thinking about him," Vance said.

The vice president also extended his well wishes to Lou Prevost, whom he described as "a true American original and great guy," noting that Prevost was facing his own health challenges.

Vance expressed hope that both men would remain healthy for years to come.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

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