Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with Lung cancer following surgery performed on him on Tuesday, 13th October 2026, at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
The leader of the largest church in the world was first admitted to the hospital after doctors discovered a nodule in his right lung and he underwent an operation to remove it.
Lung nodules, also called pulmonary nodules or spots on the lungs, are small growths that can develop in the lungs. They are small, round or oval-shaped areas of dense tissue that appear as white spots on a chest X-ray or CT scan.
However, during the surgery, an examination confirmed that the nodule was cancerous and identified it as Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma.
“Pope Leo XIV is recovering at a Rome hospital after a “successful” surgery to remove part of his right lung, which was found to have a cancerous growth, ” the Vatican’s statement reads.
According to the Vatican, the operation was completed without any complications, and the holy father regained consciousness normally before returning to his hospital room, where he is currently under medical supervision
“The Holy Father underwent thoracic surgery as scheduled,” said Dr Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora in a statement. “The lower lobe of the right lung was removed using video-assisted surgery.”
Pope LEO is currently recovering at Gemelli Hospital, with further updates on his condition expected in the coming days.
Here is what you need to know about Lung Adenocarcinoma
What is Adenocarcinoma of the lung?
Lung adenocarcinoma, which is a major form of lung cancer, is one of the deadliest cancers in the world due to its high heterogeneity. The highly heterogeneous disease is a type of non-small cell lung cancer that occurs when abnormal lung cells multiply out of control and form a tumour.
The disease is categorised into two main types: small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), which encompasses 15% of all lung cancers, and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), which usually begins in glandular cells that secrete substances such as mucus and tends to develop in smaller airways, such as alveoli.
Although the most common cause of this cancer is chronic exposure to tobacco smoke, its incidence in non-smokers accounts for 15–20% of cases and is often attributed to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Symptoms of adenocarcinoma of the lung
According to Harvard Health Publishing, Adenocarcinoma of the lung often has no specific symptoms and is usually detected on a chest X-ray or CT scan done for screening or another medical reason.
All lung cancers, including adenocarcinoma, have similar symptoms. These include: a cough that doesn’t go away; coughing up blood or mucus; wheezing; shortness of breath; trouble breathing; chest pain; hoarseness; weight loss; and poor appetite.
Who is at risk of coming down with this disease?
Certain factors such as smoking, gender, and age put some people more at risk than others for adenocarcinoma of the lung, a study by the Lung Cancer Foundation of America says.
But smoking is considered one of the number-one risk factors, followed by the increase in adenocarcinoma, which is the major rising cause of lung cancer in young women.
How to Prevent adenocarcinoma of the lung
To reduce your risk of coming down with adenocarcinoma and other forms of lung cancer, it is important to not smoke. If you already smoke, talk to your doctor about getting the help you need to quit.
Avoid secondhand smoke. Choose smoke-free restaurants and hotels. Ask guests to smoke outdoors, especially if there are children in your home.
Reduce exposure to radon. Have your home checked for radon gas. A radon level above 4 picocuries/liter is unsafe. If you have a private well, also have your drinking water checked.
Also, avoid being exposed to asbestos. Because no level of asbestos exposure is safe, any exposure is too much. If you have an older home, check whether any insulation or other asbestos-containing material is exposed or deteriorating.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, a U.S. citizen and native of Chicago emerged the first American pontiff to lead the Catholic Church in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph.
He spent his childhood and adolescence with his family and studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a Degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy.
On September 1 of the same year, Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in Saint Louis, in the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Chicago, and made his first profession on September 2, 1978. On August 29, 1981, he made his solemn vows.
The Pontiff received his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent by his superiors to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).
In Rome, he was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica by Archbishop Jean Jadot, then pro-president of the Secretariat for Non-Christians, which later became the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and then the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
Prevost obtained his licentiate in 1984 and the following year, while preparing his doctoral thesis, was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru (1985–1986).
In 1987, he defended his doctoral thesis on “The Role of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine” and was appointed vocation director and missions director of the Augustinian Province of “Mother of Good Counsel” in Olympia Fields, Illinois (USA).