Vatican announces Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer after successful surgery

Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung.

Surgeons Remove Cancerous Nodule at Gemelli Hospital

Professor Stefano Margaritora led the surgical team at the Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic hospital in northwest Rome, where medical teams removed the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted technique. The 71-year-old pontiff spent about three hours total in the facility during the procedure, which lasted approximately 90 minutes.

Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr. Maria Teresa Congedo, and Dr. Leonardo Petracca Ciavarella assisted the surgical team, while the anesthesia team comprised Professor Massimo Antonelli, Dr. Giovanni Punzo, and Dr. Giuseppe Bello. The Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic hospital is a private medical facility in northwest Rome that has a long association with the Vatican.

“These surgeries to remove the nodule are usually minimally invasive,” Fred Hutch's Dr. Matty Triplette told @CNN. “The outcomes are quite good, with a 5-year disease free survival of (more than) 80% for the earliest stages of non-small cell lung cancer.” https://t.co/AWK4gea8Y8

— https://x.com/fredhutch/status/2110119429954564396

Further examination of the resected tissue confirmed the preoperative diagnosis.

Adenocarcinoma of the lung represents about 40% of all lung cancers in the United States, according to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Following the operation, the Pope awoke normally and returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th-floor private-patient wing after a brief period of observation. As reported by Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni, the pontiff requested dinner after the procedure and spent his evening with his secretaries and other members of the Vatican staff.

Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo…

— https://x.com/Pontifex/status/2109267778553221597

Pilgrims Pray Worldwide After Surprise Announcement

Leo personally disclosed the diagnosis to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square, explaining that medical professionals discovered a minor lung nodule during a routine exam and noting that it was caught early and remained well-contained. This marks the first major medical intervention of the pontificate since the Chicago-born leader became the first U.S.-born head of the Roman Catholic Church in May 2025.

Religious and political figures worldwide responded with solidarity. Prominent political and religious leaders from Ukraine, Israel, Argentina, and Peru offered public wishes for recovery. Argentine President Javier Milei extended his affection and best wishes ahead of the pope’s surgery, writing that all of Argentina accompanies His Holiness with affection and prayer, wishing him a prompt and full recovery. Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela extended prayers and best wishes to the pope for a successful procedure and a complete recovery, and Viktor Eichner, the World Jewish Congress’s representative to the Holy See, posted on X to wish the pope a successful surgery and a speedy recovery so that he may return to full strength soon.

Cancer is a devastating disease that touches the lives of far too many people. I am keeping Pope Leo XIV in my thoughts and prayers following his lung cancer diagnosis. I wish him strength and comfort as he recovers from surgery and pray for his continued healing.…

— https://x.com/RepTimKennedy/status/2110110459164766638

In the Philippines, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference mobilized through its president, Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa, who asked bishops and priests to offer Mass intentions for the successful outcome of the Pope’s surgery. Praying that the Holy Father experiences the steadfast backing and devotion of the faithful, Bishop Peter Suphot Roeksujarit of Chiang Mai sought the intercession and defense of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Thailand. In Central Asia, Church leaders encouraged parishes and missions to organize prayer chains, and at the Cathedral in Astana, Kazakhstan, where perpetual Adoration has been held day and night since 2002, the faithful offered a special prayer intention for Pope Leo XIV. In South Korea, parishes organized prayer chains with special intentions included in daily and Sunday Masses. Across Europe and the Americas, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz offered prayers through the intercession of St. John Paul II and Our Lady of Fatima. Estimated crowds of 130,000 pilgrims gathered at the Shrine of Fatima to commemorate the 109th anniversary of Mary’s final apparition and pray for Pope Leo’s health coinciding with the anniversary of the miracle of the sun.

Vatican Cancels Audiences Until October 20

The Vatican confirmed that all of the Pope’s public audiences and appointments have been canceled until October 20, including a meeting regarding Amoris Laetitia, the document on the family issued by Pope Francis, which marked the tenth anniversary of its publication.

Vatican announces Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer after successful surgery — Photo: The Guardian

While administrative business requiring the Pope’s signature remains temporarily postponed, Vatican representatives note that routine governance continues. While historical precedent demonstrates that pontiffs have previously kept making decisions while hospitalized and officials in the Roman Curia preserve day-to-day institutional operations, Church legislation contains no explicit guidelines for shifting administrative authority if a pope becomes entirely incapacitated.

Maintaining an active routine that includes swimming and weekly tennis matches at Castel Gandolfo—where he also takes pleasure in horseback riding—Leo has no prior medical history of illness. The Vatican reported that Mildred, Leo’s mother, passed away from cancer at age 77 in 1990, while his older brother Louis resides in Florida and is presently receiving hospital treatment for an unspecified type of cancer. The Vatican press office said the growth on the pope’s lung was discovered during routine tests.

Prayers for the Holy Father Pope Leo @Pontifex as he undergoes surgery for a lung nodule. Pray it is benign. https://t.co/9KBgIgVIeI

— https://x.com/RepGregMurphy/status/2109346881906389076

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told Italian media that he had seen Leo on Monday night, stating that they spoke with great serenity and describing the pope as a great example. Parolin noted that the announcement came like a bolt out of the blue that nobody expected, but expressed gratitude that it was detected immediately so the operation could take place promptly, adding that the pope has God with him without a doubt.