Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed with Lung Cancer

Pope Leo XIV has officially been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital, as stated in a medical bulletin from the Holy See.

Surgeons successfully removed the lower lobe of the 71-year-old pope’s right lung during the operation. However, subsequent lab tests confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that had already been suspected prior to surgery.

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most prevalent subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), making up about 40% of all lung cancer cases. It typically begins in the mucus-secreting glandular cells located in the outer edges of the lungs, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.

The Holy See Press Office reported that the procedure went smoothly and encountered no complications. The pope spent approximately three hours in the operating room, while the surgery itself lasted about 90 minutes.

After the surgery, Pope Leo regained consciousness normally and, following a brief recovery period, returned to his private suite on the hospital’s tenth floor. He is reportedly resting comfortably at this time.

This surgical intervention comes after the pope’s announcement during his weekly Angelus address at St. Peter’s Square, where he shared that routine medical exams had identified a lung nodule.

During that address, he mentioned that the nodule was found at a very early stage and reassured the audience that he would be stepping away briefly for necessary treatment, based on his medical team’s advice. Vatican officials have since canceled all papal meetings and official engagements for the upcoming week to allow the pontiff ample time to recover.

It is expected that he will remain hospitalized at Gemelli for at least seven days while his medical team monitors his condition and performs routine follow-up tests. As of now, there have been no immediate plans announced for further treatment options, such as chemotherapy.