Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, according to the Vatican.
The Vatican confirmed that an examination of the removed tissue identified lung adenocarcinoma, as doctors had suspected before the operation. The surgery was successful, with no complications reported.
According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the procedure was performed as scheduled at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The pope was in the operating room for approximately three hours, with the operation itself lasting around 90 minutes.
He woke up normally after surgery and returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor following a brief period of observation.
The operation was led by thoracic surgeon Professor Stefano Margaritora, assisted by a team of specialists. The Vatican said the lower lobe of the right lung was removed to ensure the affected tissue was fully removed.
Leo, 71, had revealed the discovery of a small, localized lung nodule during his Sunday Angelus prayer. Doctors had recommended its removal, but the Vatican had not previously confirmed whether it was cancerous.
Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer. It develops in cells that produce substances such as mucus and is classified as a form of non-small cell lung cancer. The Vatican has not announced the cancer’s stage or whether the pope will require additional treatment.
The pope’s scheduled audiences have been canceled through Oct. 20 to allow time for his hospitalization and recovery. His hospital stay was expected to last about a week, although his recovery and any further medical recommendations could affect that timeline.
Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, became the first American pope when he was elected leader of the Catholic Church in May 2025. Before his election, he spent many years serving the Church in Peru, including as a missionary and bishop.
The pope previously suffered from typhoid fever in 1985 while serving as a missionary in Peru, an experience he later described as a significant moment in his life and religious vocation.
Leo is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November. It remains unclear whether the trip will proceed as planned following his surgery and cancer diagnosis.