VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery on Tuesday in Rome to remove a malignant growth in his right lung, the Vatican announced. Tests conducted during and after the operation confirmed that the pontiff has lung adenocarcinoma.
Surgeons at the Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic performed a 90-minute operation to extract the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung using a video-assisted technique, church officials said in a medical bulletin. The Vatican stated that the procedure concluded without complications and that the 71-year-old pontiff regained consciousness normally before returning to his hospital room on the 10th floor.
Early Detection and Medical Prognosis
The Vatican said the postoperative histological analysis confirmed what medical teams had suspected during preoperative testing. Church spokespersons noted that the complete removal of the lobe aimed to eliminate any remaining traces of malignant cells, and medical teams have not yet discussed chemotherapy or additional treatments pending further test evaluations, according to Al Jazeera.
Leo publicly revealed the health issue two days prior to the operation. While delivering his noon Angelus blessing on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, he informed gathered pilgrims that physicians had identified a nodule on his lung. He described the growth as localized and caught at an early stage, adding that he had accepted doctors’ guidance to remove it surgically.
“The doctors believe it’s best to take action, so, following their advice, I’ve decided to have surgery to remove it,” the pontiff said during his remarks on Sunday, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Lung adenocarcinoma is the most prevalent variant of lung cancer in the United States, accounting for roughly 40 percent of all cases, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America cited by NPR. Medical specialists noted that early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes. Dr. Matthew Triplette, a pulmonary care specialist at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, told CNN that early-stage non-small cell lung cancers carry a five-year disease-free survival rate exceeding 80 percent, OK! Magazine reported.
Recovery and Travel Schedule
Born in Chicago, Leo made history in May 2025 when he was chosen to succeed the late Pope Francis, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Prior to his papacy, he served under his birth name, Robert Francis Prevost, and led the Augustinian religious order.
Although Leo is not known to have been a smoker and maintains a physically active routine that includes tennis and swimming, cancer has affected several members of his family, NPR reported. Church officials revealed Tuesday that the pope’s older brother, Louis, is currently hospitalized in Florida with cancer. His mother, Mildred, died of cancer in 1990 at age 77.
The Holy See announced that all papal audiences have been called off through at least Oct. 20, as Leo is projected to require about a week to recover from the surgery. Any official administrative actions that mandate his signature will be delayed during this span, according to OK! Magazine.
The health development comes less than a month before Leo’s scheduled 11-day apostolic trip across South America, set to run from Nov. 6 to Nov. 17. The demanding schedule includes stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, encompassing 10 public Masses, multiple domestic flights and high-altitude travel in the Andes. Leo stated on Sunday that he intended to carry out the voyage as planned, though the Vatican has not yet confirmed whether his postoperative recovery will force changes to the tour.
