Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a statement reported by Euronews. The lower lobe of his right lung was removed during surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on 13 October 2026. According to the statement, the operation was successful and there were no complications.
Pre-operative tests had already raised suspicions that the lung lesion was cancerous. The Vatican said the removal of the lobe was intended to ensure complete surgical removal of the cancer. The diagnosis is a significant update following the earlier announcement that the Pope would undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule.
The Vatican press office also said doctors expected a recovery period of around a week. That is an estimate of recovery after the operation, rather than a confirmed timetable for a full return to health. A successful operation does not, on its own, confirm that the cancer has been cured or establish the Pope’s long-term prognosis.
According to Euronews, the Pope’s trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru remains scheduled for 6 November. Its continued place in the calendar does not, however, confirm that Leo XIV will be able to make the journey.
