Pope Leo XIV had part of his right lung removed on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and the Vatican says tests during the operation confirmed lung cancer. The Holy See Press Office called the surgery “successful” with “no complications,” and on Wednesday said his recovery was “proceeding as expected.”
The pope is 71. Here is what the Vatican has said, what independent doctors say is still unknown, and how the news changes his schedule. This is based on reports through October 14, so check for newer updates before you publish.
Quick Facts
- Announcement: Sunday, October 11, 2026, after the Angelus
- Surgery: Tuesday, October 13, at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome
- Procedure: removal of the lower lobe of the right lung using a video-assisted technique
- Diagnosis: pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a type of non-small cell lung cancer, per the Holy See Press Office
- Surgeon: Prof. Stefano Margaritora
- Expected hospital stay: about one week
- Audiences cancelled through: Tuesday, October 20
How the Pope Announced It
On October 11, Leo told the crowd at the Angelus: “During some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung.” He said it was “detected at a very early stage and is well-localized,” and that doctors believed “it is best to intervene,” so he had decided to have surgery.
He thanked the faithful for their “spiritual closeness” and asked for their prayers, per Vatican News. Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni said the operation would be in the first days of the week and that recovery would take about one week.
The Surgery
According to the Holy See Press Office, as relayed by EWTN News:
- Leo was admitted to Gemelli and had surgery on the afternoon of October 13.
- The lower lobe of his right lung was removed.
- The operation took about 90 minutes, and he was in the operating room about three hours.
- A frozen-section exam during surgery confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
- He woke normally and returned to his room on the 10th floor.
The statement was prepared by Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal physician, and Margaritora. The Vatican said “further information will follow,” and later tests, including full histology, were still expected, per EWTN.
How Is He Doing Now?
The Vatican reported he had a “peaceful night” on October 14. A later statement said blood tests and a chest X-ray were within the normal range for this type of surgery. He began respiratory physiotherapy, walked in his room, and resumed a regular diet.
Bruni described a “normal postoperative course.” On Wednesday, Leo concelebrated Mass in a room set up on the hospital’s 10th floor, per Vatican News as cited by EWTN. CBS says the pope is expected to stay about a week from his Tuesday admission.
What We Don’t Know Yet
The Vatican hasn’t said what stage the cancer is or whether lymph nodes were involved, per CBS. Dr. David Jones, chief of thoracic surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering, told CBS that more pathology information is needed, including lymph node status and whether molecular testing might guide treatment.
EWTN reports that chemotherapy had not been discussed at that stage. There’s no public prognosis from the Vatican. I’m not going to guess at one, and I’d treat any outlet that offers a survival figure with caution, since the pathology results haven’t been released.
Schedule Changes
- Audiences: All cancelled through Tuesday, October 20, per the Vatican.
- Amoris Laetitia conference: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle read a homily the pope had prepared for the closing Mass on October 14, per EWTN.
- South America trip: The planned November 6 to 17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru is still on, for now. Bruni said on October 14 that the pope “intends to go.” The Argentina leg is November 8 to 11.
CBS notes that air travel is typically avoided for about three weeks after this kind of procedure, so the start date is uncertain. Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo said doctors might not allow travel on November 6, but the trip could happen later. Peru’s president, Keiko Fujimori, said recovery could change the timing, per EWTN.
Background: His Health Before
CBS says Leo, born in Chicago, has been pope for about a year and a half and is known for an active lifestyle that includes swimming and tennis. That likely helped going into surgery, the article says. I haven’t seen any report of earlier serious health problems.
Candida Moss, a theology professor at the University of Birmingham, told CBS the Vatican tends to keep health news under wraps, so observers often read between the lines. This time the pope announced the nodule himself and the Vatican published a detailed statement within hours of the operation.
His Brother
CBS reports the pope’s older brother, Louis Prevost, of Florida, has multiple myeloma. He was diagnosed in 2017, reached a low-level remission after treatment in 2019, and “fell out of remission” about three months ago. He’s now in a clinical trial. Leo called his brother to tell him about his own diagnosis. This is the family’s news, and I’d keep it brief.
Reactions
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, said he was struck by the pope’s “serenity” before the surgery, per EWTN.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and his wife were “united in prayer,” per CBS.
- Donald Trump said he wants to see the pope “get well,” per EWTN. CBS’s report doesn’t mention a Trump comment.
- JD Vance said he and his family are praying for the pope, per EWTN.
- Narendra Modi, Mark Carney, and António Guterres sent wishes for a speedy recovery, per EWTN.
- Sergio Mattarella and Giorgia Meloni expressed support before the surgery, per EWTN.
Timeline
- October 11: The pope announces the nodule at the Angelus
- October 12: The Vatican cancels audiences through October 20
- October 13: Surgery at Gemelli; adenocarcinoma confirmed during the operation
- October 14: Normal tests, walking, a regular diet, Mass in his room
- Around October 20: Expected end of the hospital stay, based on “about one week”
- November 6 to 17: Planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, still under review
What Didn’t Sit Right in the Coverage
Headlines vary a lot. Some say “lung cancer diagnosis” while the pope’s own words were about a “nodule.” Both are accurate, but they’re different stages of the story. The cancer confirmation came after surgery.
I’d also watch for claims about prognosis. Without stage and lymph node results, no outlet can say much, and the Vatican hasn’t. One DW video page has “prognosis” in its title, and I couldn’t open it, so I can’t say what it claims.
There’s also a mix of sources on whether Trump commented. EWTN includes a quote, CBS doesn’t mention one. I used EWTN with attribution.
conclusion
The Vatican’s account is that the cancer was caught early, the operation went smoothly, and the pope is recovering on schedule. The open questions are medical ones, stage and follow-up treatment, and practical ones, mainly whether he can make the South America trip on time.
What matters most to you in how the Vatican communicates about the pope’s health? Tell me in the comments.