Pope Leo XIV is diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after a 90-minute surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican said the operation was successful and there were no complications.

The Pope is 71 years old. The nodule was first detected during routine checks, with pre-operative tests suspecting cancer that was confirmed only after the surgical tissue was examined and identified as lung adenocarcinoma. The whole lower lobe of the right lung was removed to ensure the procedure was “radical.” The Holy See’s press office noted that the radical removal of the lobe indicated doctors had removed all suspect tissue in the hope of eliminating any lingering traces of the cancer.

After the operation, the Pope awoke normally and returned to his room after a brief period of observation. The Vatican stressed that the pontiff had no symptoms of infection or illness. Gemelli’s thoracic surgery team operated on the Pope, who is expected to recover at the hospital for a week. Doctors are not currently discussing chemotherapy or other therapies pending the results of other tests. A Vatican source told Agence France-Presse that further tests were being carried out to see if there was any sign the cancer had spread.

A Sunday announcement and a calm pontiff

The Pope first announced the nodule and planned surgery during his Sunday noon Angelus blessing in St Peter’s Square, saying the growth was “contained” and found “at a very early stage.” He explained that doctors had advised him to have it removed. “The doctors believe it’s best to take action, so, following their advice, I’ve decided to have surgery to remove it,” he said during remarks delivered in Italian. He decided to check in for surgery as soon as possible because he was due to travel to Latin America in early November. Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo wrote on social media that he had an audience with the Pope on Monday and said the pontiff felt “nothing wrong” physically. Before the procedure, the Pope waved to well-wishers gathered outside the hospital, where staff met him on the steps. “I’m sorry,” one staff member said, to which the Pope gave a smile and a shrug. “We’re here for you,” another assured him.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin told journalists the news was like a “bolt from the blue” but said cardinals were struck by the Pope’s “serenity” and confident in his recovery. “Am I worried? Yes, because I certainly wasn’t expecting anything like this,” Parolin said. Outside Gemelli, a few Catholics lingered after the pontiff was admitted. “He seems calm, so we are calm too — even though illness is always unpleasant,” Carla told the BBC. “I was in St Peter’s Square when he made the announcement, and I felt really awful,” said Elsa. “It turns out he’s vulnerable too,” she added, explaining she was “really taken aback.”

November tour still on the calendar

The Pope’s schedule has been cleared until 20 October for recovery. A Latin America tour is scheduled for November 6-17, with stops planned across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The itinerary includes a dozen flights, two helicopter rides, and significant altitude changes in Peru. The Pope told reporters on Sunday he intends to make the journey. The trip is particularly significant because it includes a visit to Peru, where the pontiff was a missionary and then a Bishop for many years. The Pope has no reported history of serious illness and is considered physically active, routinely swimming and playing tennis.

Gemelli Hospital has treated several popes and is home to a large statue of John Paul II.