Pope Leo XIV Recovering After Cancerous Tumour Removed from Right Lung

Pope Leo XIV is recovering after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung, with the Vatican saying the operation was successful and involved no complications.

The 90-minute procedure took place at Gemelli hospital in Rome on Tuesday. The Vatican said surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung to ensure the treatment was sufficiently comprehensive.

The operation confirmed a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma that had been suspected through pre-operative tests. The Vatican said the 71-year-old pope woke normally after the procedure. He spent about three hours in the operating room in total.

Further tests planned

Additional tests were being carried out to establish whether the cancer had spread. The results will help doctors decide whether further treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy, may be required, according to Juanita Mora, a medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association.

Mora told AFP that pulmonary adenocarcinoma can have a “very, very good prognosis” when detected at an early stage. She said five-year survival rates for early and localised cases treated through surgical removal range from 80 to 98 percent, while stressing that the outlook depends on the cancer’s stage and whether it has spread.

The Vatican previously said the lung nodule was discovered during routine health checks. It said the pope had not experienced symptoms that prompted the examination of his lungs. Pope Leo told crowds during Angelus prayers that the nodule had been found “at a very early stage” and that doctors believed intervention was appropriate.

Recovery and schedule

The Vatican expected the pope’s recovery to take about a week. His audiences have been cancelled until October 20.

The surgery was his first hospitalisation since he became head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025. Before the operation, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said the pope had been “very calm” when they met on Monday.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, led a rosary for the pope in the hospital chapel, with the prayer broadcast by the Vatican. Dozens of people attended, and Reina asked parishes across Rome to join the prayer.

The operation has also raised uncertainty over a planned visit to South America. Pope Leo was scheduled to travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, but there has been no statement confirming whether that trip will proceed.

Messages of support

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said people were united in prayer for the pope’s health after his diagnosis and asked that God give him strength and guide the medical professionals caring for him.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also expressed his “thoughts and prayers” for the pope, describing him as “a voice for peace, humanity and reason in our modern world.”