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Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery to remove part of his right lung, the Vatican has said.
The 71-year-old Pope underwent a 90-minute operation at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday. Doctors said that tissue examination during the operation confirmed that he had adenocarcinoma of the lungs.
In a statement, the Vatican said the operation was successful and the Pope returned to his room after remaining under observation for some time.
What is adenocarcinoma of the lung, how serious was Pope's surgery and how long will it take for him to recover?
What is Adenocarcinoma of Lungs?
According to the Vatican, a lump in his lungs was discovered during a routine health checkup.
This is a small lesion which is usually harmless. The American Thoracic Society (ATS) states that less than 5% of lung lumps prove to be cancerous, although the risk increases with factors such as age, lump size, and smoking.
The nodules are denser than normal lung tissue and appear as white spots on CT scans. According to the ATS, this is commonly referred to as a shadow or "spot on the lungs."
However, examination of tissues during Pope Leo's surgery confirmed that the lump was adenocarcinoma of the lung, a type of cancer. It starts in mucus-producing cells in the lungs.
"The histological examination carried out during the operation confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the lungs, as suspected by tests carried out before the operation," doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora said in a statement issued by the Holy See press office.
Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer and is especially common in people who have never smoked. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 50% to 60% of lung cancer cases in people who never smoke are adenocarcinomas.
Leo, who was elected Pope in May 2025, is a relatively young candidate for the papacy. He enjoys several sports, including tennis, and does not smoke nor has he had any serious health problems in the past.
How serious was the operation?
The Vatican said surgeons removed the lower part of the Pope's right lung with the help of video-assisted technology. In a medical bulletin, doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora said the procedure was performed to completely remove the tumor.
The surgery lasted for about 90 minutes. However the Pope had to spend about three hours in the operation theatre. Doctors said the procedure was successful and there were no complications.
After remaining under observation for some time, the Pope returned to his room in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. He later had dinner and spent the evening with his secretaries and other Vatican staff, the Vatican reported.
The Vatican said further test results would be released as they become available.
How long will it take for them to recover?
The Vatican has said the Pope's recovery is expected to take about a week.
He is being treated at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, formally known as the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, a Catholic teaching hospital affiliated with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
There is a special suite for the Pope on the 10th floor of the hospital, which also has a private chapel.
Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, received treatment there several times before his death in April 2025 after a long illness involving respiratory problems.
St. John Paul II spent so much time in Gemelli that he famously nicknamed it "Vatican III", after the Vatican itself and Castell Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence.
Will the Pope still travel and attend public events?
Before being hospitalized, the Pope had canceled all public events scheduled between Tuesday and October 20.
Despite the upcoming surgery, Leo attended all his scheduled events on Monday morning.
A Vatican agenda published on Monday showed he had met with visiting bishops from Argentina, Nicaragua, Japan, Nigeria and the United States earlier that day.
During a meeting with a Rome-based charity group, he spoke in a strong and clear voice and thanked members for their work, Reuters reported.
Leo, who leads the Catholic Church's 1.4 billion members, had several public events scheduled for this week, including a mass in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday.
The Vatican said that this prayer meeting will be led by Cardinal Luis Tagle.
Pope Leo is also scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
It is not yet clear whether the surgery and recovery period will affect the trip, which will include various flights, helicopter trips and visits to high-altitude locations in Peru.
However, the Pope said Sunday that he still intended to travel.
Will he continue in his post even during the Pope's recovery?
The Pope is supreme for Catholics around the world and has no representative who can automatically take over if he becomes ill.
When a Pope is incapacitated, the Vatican's bureaucratic machinery continues to function, although decisions requiring papal approval are usually deferred.
In the event of the death or resignation of a Pope, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, currently Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, is responsible for convening the conclave to elect his successor.
