Vatican Gives Update on Pope Leo XIV After Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV has spent a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital following surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican has announced. Doctors confirmed during the procedure that the pontiff had lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.

The 71-year-old pope was admitted to the hospital to have a lung nodule removed after preliminary medical examinations raised concerns that the growth could be cancerous. The diagnosis was confirmed during the operation on Tuesday evening.

According to the Vatican’s medical update, doctors successfully removed the affected portion of the lung. The statement did not outline a specific treatment plan, noting that decisions about further medical care would depend on the results of additional tests.

The Vatican’s description of the removal as “radical” suggests that surgeons aimed to remove all the affected tissue. However, further examination, including tests on the lymph nodes, will help determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the original site.

Dr Stephen Liu, a lung cancer specialist at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre, explained that adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer and can have a favourable prognosis. He stressed, however, that the stage of the disease and whether it has spread must be established before doctors can assess the outlook more accurately.

Further treatment, if required, could include chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or targeted medication, depending on the findings of the additional tests.

The implications for the pope’s long-term health therefore remain uncertain as doctors await more information about the disease.

The Vatican said Leo spent approximately three hours in the operating room, with the surgical procedure itself lasting about 90 minutes. The operation was successful, and no complications were reported. He was subsequently transferred back to his hospital room.

The human lungs have several sections known as lobes. The right lung has three lobes, while the left has two. Following the removal of one lobe, the remaining lung tissue can gradually compensate for some of the lost capacity, although recovery varies from person to person.

Earlier on Tuesday, the pope arrived at Gemelli Hospital through its main entrance and waved to supporters who had gathered to welcome him. The operation was conducted by a surgical team led by the hospital’s chief thoracic surgeon, Dr Stefano Margaritora.

Pope Leo had publicly disclosed the discovery of the lung nodule during his Sunday noon prayer, telling the faithful that it would be removed. His openness has provided an unusual level of public information about a major health issue during his 17-month papacy.

Before the operation, oncologists indicated that if the nodule proved cancerous, early removal could be associated with a favourable prognosis.

Meanwhile, the Vatican has cancelled all the pope’s scheduled audiences through October 20 as he recovers from the procedure and awaits further medical assessments.