Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Here's what to know about the first American pope.
Pope Leo was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. He's a little over a year into his papacy.
Pope Leo XIV, whose real name is Robert Francis Prevost, was born in Chicago in 1955 and was elected as the current pope in May 2025. He is the first American pope in history, making him the 267th pope overall. Born a citizen of Peru, where he served as Bishop of Chiclayo, he holds degrees from Villanova University, the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, and the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
Prevost has been vocal about artificial intelligence's societal impact and has authored encyclicals on the topic. At 71 years old, he recently underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung due to a previously diagnosed lung cancer.
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