The Holy See has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after undergoing successful thoracic surgery at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital.
The 71-year-old Pontiff underwent surgery on October 13 after doctors discovered a small, localized lung nodule during recent medical examinations.
Pope Leo had personally revealed the finding during the October 11 Angelus, telling pilgrims that the nodule had been detected at a very early stage and was well localized. Following his doctors’ recommendation, he agreed to have it surgically removed.
During the operation, surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung using video-assisted thoracic surgery, a minimally invasive technique involving a camera and specialized instruments.
An intraoperative examination of the removed tissue confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of non-small cell lung cancer that often originates in the outer regions of the lung.
The Pope spent approximately three hours in the operating room, while the surgical procedure itself lasted about 90 minutes.
According to the Vatican, the operation was successful and there were no complications. Pope Leo awoke normally from anesthesia and returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor following a short period of observation.
Important questions, however, still remain.
The Vatican has not announced the cancer’s final pathological stage. Doctors must examine the removed tumor and surrounding tissue in greater detail, including surgical margins and lymph nodes, to determine whether cancer cells had spread beyond the original site.
Those findings will also help determine whether surgery alone is sufficient or whether additional treatment — such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy — may be recommended.
For that reason, it is still too early to say that the Holy Father is completely cancer-free.
Adenocarcinoma can occur in smokers, former smokers and people who have never smoked. The Vatican has not identified a specific cause or risk factor in Pope Leo’s case.
All papal public engagements have been suspended through October 20 to allow time for postoperative recovery.
As doctors continue evaluating the pathology results, Catholics around the world remain united in prayer for Pope Leo XIV, his medical team and his complete recovery.
Leave a Reply