Pope Leo has cancerous tumour removed in lung operation
ROME: Pope Leo XIV had a cancerous tumour removed from his right lung in a 90-minute operation on Tuesday and “woke up normally” after the procedure, the Vatican said.
Pope Leo XIV underwent a three-hour surgical procedure on Tuesday at Rome's Gemelli hospital to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. The 71-year-old pope, a native of Chicago and the first US pontiff, was successfully operated on and woke up normally following the 90-minute operation. Further tests are being conducted to determine if the cancer has spread, with early-stage cancer typically having a high survival rate.
The Vatican expects Leo's recovery to take around a week, and his audiences have been cancelled until October 20. This marks Leo's first hospitalization since becoming head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025. The Pope, who appeared calm about his condition, was discovered to have the nodule during routine medical checks earlier in the week.
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