Pope Leo has lung cancer diagnosed after surgery, Vatican says

Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed a portion of his right lung on Tuesday, according to the Vatican. The 71-year-old pontiff was found to have adenocarcinoma, a prevalent type of lung cancer, after preparatory examinations revealed the presence of a tumor, which was subsequently confirmed through tissue tests during the surgery.

Pope Leo underwent the procedure at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove the growth that had been detected in a recent health examination. The Vatican initially announced on Tuesday that the surgery had been successful, followed by a more detailed account from the Pope's chief surgeon and personal physician.

To ensure a complete removal of the cancerous tissue, the lower lobe of the right lung was excised using a video-assisted technique, as stated in the medical update. Medical professionals emphasized that further information regarding the tumor's size and whether the cancer had metastasized to the Pope's lymph nodes would be necessary to evaluate his condition.

The Pontiff is scheduled to embark on an 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17, but it remains uncertain if this journey will proceed as planned. In response to his health concerns, the Vatican has suspended all of his audiences until October 21 to allow for his recovery. During a Sunday blessing on October 11, Pope Leo disclosed that doctors had discovered a nodule during his regular medical check-up.

The previous Pope, Francis, who preceded Pope Leo, was hospitalized multiple times as he grew frail in his later years before passing away at the age of 88 in April 2025. Pope Leo assumed leadership of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics in May 2025, and he has made significant contributions to the papacy by addressing the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and expressing growing skepticism towards US military actions, challenging the administration of then-President Donald Trump regarding the notion that America had God's favor in its conflict with Iran.