Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer after surgery

Hours after his surgery concluded, the Vatican announced overnight Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The Catholic Church stated that the pontiff is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week, with all public events scheduled through October 20 cancelled.

According to the Vatican, the 71-year-old pope has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, and tissue tests conducted during the operation confirmed what doctors had suspected based on preliminary examinations. During the 90-minute surgery, physicians removed the lower lobe of his right lung.

Professor Stefano Margiotta, head of thoracic surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, said the operation was successful. "To make the procedure a curative treatment, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted minimally invasive approach," he explained. "A rapid histological examination during surgery confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as we had already suspected based on pre-operative tests."

This past Sunday, the pope announced he would undergo surgery. "Doctors discovered a confined mass in my lung," the pontiff told the faithful gathered in the square for the Angelus prayer. "The mass is at an early and localized stage," he added, seeking to reassure the Christian public worldwide. "On the advice of doctors, I will undergo surgery to remove it in the coming days."

Leo XIV was sworn in as the 266th pope in May 2025, replacing Pope Francis, who died several weeks earlier. Since taking office, the American pontiff has been considered relatively moderate in his positions toward Israel, in contrast to his predecessor, who repeatedly condemned Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip.