{
  "id": 14315604,
  "title": "Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and underwent successful surgery, Vatican says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pope-leo-xiv-has-lung-cancer-and-underwent-successful-surgery-vatican",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-13T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MercoPress",
    "slug": "mercopress",
    "url": "https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/13/pope-leo-xiv-has-lung-cancer-and-underwent-successful-surgery-vatican-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV, who is 71 years old, has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma and underwent successful surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Tuesday. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted technique, which took around 90 minutes. The operation was described as successful with no complications, according to the Vatican. The Pope is scheduled to begin a tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru on November 6, which has not been altered due to the surgery. A histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma after the surgery. Further tests are being conducted to determine if the cancer has spread. Pope Leo XIV announced the detection of a lung nodule at an early stage and its localized nature on Sunday. The Vatican quoted Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, who met with the Pope on Monday, saying the Pope chose the surgery as soon as possible to ensure he could complete his South American trip. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, expressed concern but acknowledged the Pope's serenity during this time. This is the first significant health issue disclosed since the Pope's papacy began in May 2025.",
  "summary": "The Vatican announced that 71-year-old Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The procedure, which confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, lasted approximately 90 minutes, though New Straits Times reported the Pope was in the operating room for a total of three hours. The Vatican stated there were no complications from the operation, and a Vatican source told New Straits Times the Pope woke up normally and had requested dinner after the procedure.\n\nFurther tests are being conducted to determine if the cancer has spread, according to a Vatican source cited by New Straits Times. MercoPress noted that the surgery takes place three weeks before a scheduled tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, a schedule that remains unchanged. Separately, CBS News reported that the Pope's older brother, Louis Prevost, has multiple myeloma.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Pope Leo Has Cancerous Growth Removed In Lung Operation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pope-leo-has-cancerous-growth-removed-in-lung-operation",
        "published": "2026-10-13T21:13:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Pope Leo has cancerous growth removed in lung operation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pope-leo-has-cancerous-growth-removed-in-lung-operation-14304831",
        "published": "2026-10-13T21:20:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Pope Leo has cancerous growth removed in lung operation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pope-leo-has-cancerous-growth-removed-in-lung-operation-14303267",
        "published": "2026-10-13T21:23:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Pope Leo has cancerous growth removed in lung operation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pope-leo-has-cancerous-growth-removed-in-lung-operation-14301685",
        "published": "2026-10-13T21:30:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Buenos Aires Times",
        "title": "Pope Leo has cancerous growth removed in lung operation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pope-leo-has-cancerous-growth-removed-in-lung-operation-14305379",
        "published": "2026-10-13T21:54:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery after lung cancer diagnosis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pope-leo-xiv-undergoes-surgery-after-lung-cancer-diagnosis",
        "published": "2026-10-13T22:52:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}