The Vatican confirms that Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer after a successful surgery
Published 13 October 2026, 16:33 GMT
Last updated 2 minutes ago
Reading time: 5 minutes
The Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer, confirming the success of the surgery he underwent to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, according to a medical statement it issued.
The 71-year-old Pope underwent a 90-minute surgery on Tuesday at Gemelli Hospital in the Italian capital, Rome, and it was discovered after the operation that he had a type of lung cancer known as “adenocarcinoma.”
The Vatican said in a statement, “The Pope woke up naturally after the surgery, and returned to his room on the tenth floor, after a short period of medical observation.”
The Vatican had previously announced the discovery of a small mass in one of the Pope's lungs during what it described as "routine medical examinations."
Large crowds gathered in front of the hospital to receive the Pope, after some of them waited hours to see him.
The attendees chanted, welcoming him and wishing him recovery, while the Pope responded by waving and smiling from the back window of his car, which was partially open.
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On Sunday, Pope Leo
He said that the mass discovered in his lung was “limited in location,” and that doctors detected it “at a very early stage,” but they advised him to remove it.
The surgery was performed by a thoracic surgery team at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, while all of the Pope's engagements were canceled until October 20, to allow the necessary time for his recovery.
Outside Gemili Hospital, which has treated a number of former popes and includes a large statue of Pope John Paul II, a number of Catholic faithful remained after the Pope entered the hospital.
Carla had come specifically to be near him.
She told the BBC: “He seems calm, so we also feel reassured, even though illness is always difficult. We will stay here and pray.”
As for Elsa, who was also present, she said: “I was in St. Peter’s Square when the news was announced, and I felt very upset. I was really surprised.”
She explained that when Pope Leo was elected, she thought he would be a younger and healthier Pope.
She added: "But it turns out that he is also susceptible to the disease."
Small masses in the lung are relatively common and are not necessarily cancerous. But doctors usually examine the removed tissue to check for any signs of cancer.
The Vatican had stressed that the Pope, who is known to enjoy generally good health, did not show any symptoms of infection or illness.
Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025, is relatively younger than many of those who preceded him in office. He plays sports, including tennis, and is not known to smoke or suffer from major health problems in the past.
According to the Vatican, the surgery was performed by a team specialized in thoracic surgery at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome, led by Professor Stefano Margaritura.
How long will his recovery take?
Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo, said in a post on social media that he met Pope Leo on Monday, and that the Pope told him that he did not feel any health problem.
He added that the Pope decided to undergo surgery as soon as possible, in order to adhere to his plans to travel to Latin America in early November.
This trip is of special importance, as it includes a visit to Peru, where the Pope spent many years as a missionary and then a bishop.
Despite the reassurances, the news of the surgery sparked widespread concern among Catholics around the world.
Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told reporters on Tuesday: “Am I worried? Yes, because I certainly did not expect something like this.”
Parolin described the news as coming "like a thunderbolt," but pointed out that the cardinals felt the Pope's calm and reassurance, and expressed their confidence in his recovery.
The Vatican said that Pope Leo's recovery is expected to take about a week, while his spokesman, Matteo Bruni, explained that the Pope will remain in the hospital during this period.
The Pope will receive treatment at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, a Catholic teaching hospital affiliated with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
The hospital includes a special wing for the popes on the tenth floor, which contains a private chapel.
Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, had received treatment in the same hospital before his death in April 2025, after suffering for a long time with health problems, including respiratory diseases.
The late Pope John Paul II also spent long periods in the hospital, until it was called "Vatican III", after the Vatican and the summer residence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo.
Will the Pope continue to travel and participate in public events?
Pope Leo canceled all of his scheduled public activities from Tuesday until October 20, before he was admitted to hospital for surgery.
The Pope had adhered to all his appointments on Monday morning, as he met with visiting bishops from Argentina, Nicaragua, Japan, Nigeria and the United States, according to a schedule published by the Vatican.
The Pope, who leads the Catholic Church, which includes about 1.4 billion people, was scheduled to participate in several public events this week, including a Mass in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, but the Vatican announced that Cardinal Luis Tagle would preside over the mass instead.
Will the Pope remain in charge during the recovery period?
The Pope is the highest religious authority in the Catholic Church, and there is no one to automatically represent him in the event of his illness or inability to perform his duties.
In such cases, the Vatican's administrative institutions continue to conduct their daily work, while decisions that require the Pope's approval are usually postponed.
