The 71-year-old pontiff is recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after surgeons removed part of his right lung. The Vatican says the operation was successful, but further tests will determine whether additional treatment is needed.
VATICAN CITY, October 14, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican confirmed, prompting prayers and messages of support from Catholics and world leaders.
The 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery on Tuesday, October 13, after doctors discovered a small growth in his lung during routine medical examinations. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung, and tests conducted during the operation confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer.
The Vatican said the operation was successful and completed without complications, providing an encouraging initial development as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church begins his recovery.
In an update released on Wednesday, October 14, the Holy See Press Office said the pope had spent a peaceful first night in hospital.
“The night passed calmly for the Pope. Further information will be provided later today,” the Vatican said.
According to a medical statement issued by Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, the head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital, the surgical team removed the affected part of the lung using a video assisted technique.
“To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique,” the doctors said.
They confirmed that an examination of tissue during the operation identified the cancer that had been suspected following earlier medical tests.
The pope spent approximately three hours in the operating room, although the surgical procedure itself lasted about 90 minutes. He awakened normally from general anaesthesia and returned to his hospital room after a short period of observation.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pontiff requested dinner following the operation and spent the evening with his secretaries and other Vatican personnel.
The diagnosis came just two days after Pope Leo publicly informed worshippers that doctors had discovered an abnormality in his lung.
Speaking during the Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 11, the pope explained that the growth had been identified during recent examinations and that doctors had recommended its removal.
“It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized,” he told worshippers.
The pope thanked the faithful for their support and asked them to remember him in their prayers before entering hospital.
Medical experts describe pulmonary adenocarcinoma as a type of non-small cell lung cancer that develops in cells lining the lungs. It can occur in both smokers and people who have never smoked.
The disease can be difficult to identify in its early stages because symptoms may be mild or absent. When detected before it has spread, surgical removal can offer a favourable outcome for some patients.
However, the Vatican has not publicly disclosed the precise stage of Pope Leo’s cancer, the size of the tumour or whether nearby lymph nodes are affected.
Further laboratory examinations of the removed tissue are expected to help doctors determine whether additional treatment is necessary.
Depending on the results, such treatment could include chemotherapy, immunotherapy or other approaches. No decision requiring those treatments has been publicly announced.
The pope’s diagnosis has prompted expressions of solidarity from Catholic communities and political leaders around the world.
At Gemelli Hospital, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the pope’s vicar general for the Diocese of Rome, organised prayers for his recovery, inviting parishes and religious communities across the Italian capital to join in reciting the Rosary.
Members of the Augustinian religious community, to which Pope Leo belongs, also gathered in prayer as he prepared for surgery.
At St. Peter’s Square, prayers for his recovery were offered during a Mass led by Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, reflecting the concern felt across the Catholic Church.
International figures, including United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also expressed support following news of the diagnosis.
The worldwide reaction reflects the pope’s position as spiritual leader of more than one billion Catholics and his influence on religious, diplomatic and humanitarian affairs.
The Vatican expects Pope Leo to remain hospitalised for approximately one week, depending on his medical progress.
His public audiences and scheduled engagements have been cancelled through October 20, temporarily interrupting meetings with pilgrims, visiting dignitaries and Church officials.
The illness has also raised uncertainty about his planned November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, where preparations have been underway for a pastoral journey.
The Vatican has not announced a definitive cancellation of the trip. Any decision about whether it can proceed will depend on the pope’s recovery and medical advice.
Pope Leo’s diagnosis comes approximately 17 months after his election as the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Illinois, he was elected pope on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
Before his election, Leo spent many years as a missionary and bishop in Peru, where he developed close relationships with local Catholic communities and gained extensive experience in Church leadership.
His election marked a historic moment for the Catholic Church, combining his American upbringing with decades of pastoral experience in Latin America.
Since becoming pope, Leo has repeatedly called for peace in areas affected by conflict and emphasised social justice, dialogue and support for vulnerable communities.
The diagnosis has also renewed attention to the health challenges faced by previous pontiffs.
Pope Francis experienced several serious medical problems during his papacy, including prolonged hospitalisation for double pneumonia in early 2025.
Pope John Paul II also underwent treatment at Gemelli Hospital, which has a longstanding association with the Vatican and has provided specialist medical care to several popes.
Although these historical experiences illustrate the medical demands sometimes faced by leaders of the Catholic Church, they do not indicate how Pope Leo’s illness will develop.
The pope’s temporary absence from public engagements has also prompted questions about the administration of Church affairs.
Under Catholic Church law, hospitalisation does not automatically transfer the authority of the pope to another official.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and other senior administrators can continue carrying out their established responsibilities while the pontiff recovers.
There has been no Vatican announcement that Pope Leo is unable to exercise his office or that any extraordinary governing arrangement is required.
For now, attention remains focused on his recovery and the results of further medical examinations.
The successful operation and the Vatican’s report of a peaceful first night in hospital are encouraging developments, although the precise stage of the cancer and the need for further treatment remain undetermined.
Doctors are expected to continue monitoring his condition while examining tissue removed during surgery to establish whether additional medical intervention is required.
The Vatican has indicated that further health updates will be issued as information becomes available.
For Catholics around the world, the immediate hope is that Pope Leo will recover sufficiently to resume his public ministry.
Whether that return comes within the coming weeks or requires a longer period of treatment will become clearer as doctors complete their examinations.
Until then, the pontiff’s recovery, the findings of additional tests and decisions concerning his public schedule will remain the central focus of attention at the Vatican.
