Catholics around the world received unsettling news this week about the health of their spiritual leader.
Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed part of his right lung on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, the Vatican announced.
What did doctors find during Pope Leo XIV’s surgery?
Doctors had found a growth on his lung during a recent health checkup. During the operation, they removed the lower lobe of his right lung to make sure the entire growth was taken out. He left the Vatican for the hospital shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Tissue tested during the surgery confirmed what preliminary exams had suggested. The pope has lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma accounts for about 40% of lung cancers in the United States, according to a lung cancer research organization. It tends to grow more slowly than some other types. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, but outcomes are generally better when it is found early.
How did the surgery go?
Well, according to the Vatican. Surgeons used a minimally invasive approach guided by a camera, and the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes. The pope spent roughly three hours in the operating room.
Doctors reported no complications. Pope Leo XIV woke normally, spent a short time under observation and then returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor.
After the operation, he asked for dinner and spent time visiting with his secretaries and other staff, the Holy See press office said. On Wednesday morning, the Vatican said he had a quiet night. The updates reflect intense global interest in the health of the leader of about 1.4 billion Catholics.
The thoracic surgery team at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, led by professor Stefano Margaritora, performed the procedure.
What is the outlook for Pope Leo XIV?
Doctors not involved in his care say the details released so far are encouraging. Lung adenocarcinoma found in a localized area and removed surgically is considered one of the more treatable forms of the disease.
Further testing will help his medical team decide whether he needs additional treatment. The Vatican has not said what, if any, additional care is planned.
Recovery may take time. Losing a lobe means the remaining lung tissue must adjust, and patients often experience some pain and shortness of breath at first. Doctors say the remaining lobes and the left lung typically compensate over time.
How long will Pope Leo XIV stay in the hospital?
He is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week. Patients who have this type of surgery typically stay until their oxygen levels and vital signs are stable, then continue recovering at home.
Gemelli has long served as the hospital of choice for popes. Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis both received treatment there during their pontificates. John Paul II had a benign tumor removed from his colon there in 1992, and Francis underwent several surgeries at the hospital.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Pope Leo XIV, who is 71, is the first pope born in the United States. The Chicago native, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis. Before becoming pope, he spent years as a missionary and bishop in Peru and led the Vatican office that oversees the selection of bishops.
News of his diagnosis prompted messages of support from church leaders, including the archbishop of New York.
For now, the Vatican says the surgery was a success, and Catholics around the world are praying for the recovery of Pope Leo XIV.
