14 October, 2026, 02:45 pm
Last modified: 14 October, 2026, 02:49 pm
Pope Leo XIV has undergone successful surgery at Gemelli Hospital in Rome after doctors confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer. The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during a 90-minute operation, with the Vatican reporting no complications.
Doctors confirmed the diagnosis through laboratory examination of the removed tissue after detecting a nodule during routine medical checks. Doctors are now conducting further tests to determine whether the cancer has spread.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin described the news as a "bolt from the blue" and expressed confidence in the Pope's recovery. Pope Leo is expected to remain in hospital for approximately one week, with his official schedule cleared through 20 October.
His recovery also comes ahead of a planned Latin America visit in early November, including Peru, where he previously served as a missionary and bishop.