Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, Vatican says - ABC News

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the Vatican. The pontiff underwent surgery to have the lower lobe of his right lung removed at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome.

The Holy See Press Office released details regarding the operation, noting that Dr. Luigi Carbone and Prof. Stefano Margaritora led the thoracic surgery team. According to reporting, the procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes while the pontiff was in the operating room for about three hours. During the intraoperative evaluation, a pathologist rapidly froze, sliced, and analyzed a tissue sample to provide immediate feedback to the surgical team. The Vatican stated that the Pope woke up as expected and returned to his room on the 10th floor following the intervention.

Before the operation, the 71-year-old pontiff had announced that the nodule was discovered by doctors in an initial phase and was well localized. The American Lung Association explains that a pulmonary nodule is a small mass of dense tissue that can be caused by various factors, though most remain benign. However, the intraoperative examination in this case confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. According to the National Cancer Institute, lung adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, accounting for roughly 40% of all lung cancer cases. The LCFA notes that adenocarcinoma is found on the outer part of the lungs and is more likely than other lung cancers to be found before it has spread because it grows more slowly.

Medical experts have weighed in on the prognosis following the intervention. Claudio Micheletto, director of the Complex Operative Unit of Pulmonology at the University Hospital of Verona and a board member of the Italian Association of Hospital Pulmonologists, explained to Adnkronos Health that benign nodules are not operated on, making the neoplastic finding predictable.

Micheletto further clarified that lymph nodes are also removed during the surgery, and subsequent medical steps rely on definitive histological examinations of the mediastinum space between the lungs. If tumor cells are present in the lymph nodes, further treatment would be necessary, though the hope is that it remains localized as it appeared in preoperative examinations.

Recovery timelines and future physical demands remain a focal point for medical observers. While modern videothoracoscopy techniques provide a swift initial recovery for patients in good physical condition, specialists emphasize that physical recuperation extends beyond the standard hospital discharge window. The right lung comprises three lobes, meaning roughly 30% of the pulmonary tissue on that side was removed. Observers note that while a patient in good condition can tolerate the loss of a single lobe, adequate time remains necessary to return to baseline health, as discharge from the hospital does not mean an immediate return to normal.

Gemelli Hospital, formally known as the Policlinico Universitario Fondazione Agostino Gemelli, is the largest hospital in Rome and serves as the primary medical facility commonly used by popes. Pope Leo, a Chicago native and the first American pope, who was previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the church's 267th pontiff in May 2025.

As the pontiff continues his recovery in Rome, prayers and well-wishes have poured in from Church leadership. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, led a Rosary prayer in the hospital chapel. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of State, expressed confidence and affection regarding the health updates.

The Vatican previously noted that recovery at the hospital would last approximately a week, setting the stage for subsequent updates from the medical team regarding definitive histological findings, analysis of the mediastinum lymph nodes, and future outpatient management.