Pope Leo XIV has begun recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous nodule in his lung, according to a statement from the Vatican and papal physicians on Wednesday.
Doctors at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy, told reporters on Wednesday that Leo, 71, has resumed certain regular activities following the surgery that confirmed the pontiff has lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
“The Holy Father underwent respiratory physiotherapy and has begun walking in his room,” said Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal doctor, and Dr. Stefano Margaritora, a thoracic surgeon. “He resumed his regular diet and had breakfast and lunch. Recovery is proceeding as planned.”
Leo, 71, announced during his Sunday prayer service at the start of the week that he would be undergoing surgery to remove a nodule that physicians suspected was a localized tumor.
The health update was an unorthodox move from the American pope, who was elected in 2025 after the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis. Major health diagnoses for the leader of the Catholic Church are usually treated as closely kept secrets by Vatican officials.
Here is everything to know about Leo’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, and what it could mean for the next few months of his papacy.
What kind of cancer does Pope Leo XIV have?
Leo’s surgery on Tuesday confirmed that he has lung adenocarcinoma, a type of what is called non-small cell lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma of the lung is the most common form of lung cancer and is the most common type of lung cancer in non-smokers, according to Harvard Health. In addition to smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke, the risk of developing lung adenocarcinoma increases with exposure to radon gas and asbestos.
Symptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, coughing up blood, and unexplained weight loss.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, killing 1.8 million people per year, according to the World Health Organization.
According to the National Institutes of Health, lung cancer causes 20% of all cancer deaths in the United States. In the U.S., the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 30%, meaning that there is a 30% chance the patient will live beyond five years after the initial diagnosis.
Leo has cancer in his family history, but there are no other documented cases of lung cancer in his family tree.
Leo’s mother died in 1990 after being diagnosed with cancer and enduring chemotherapy treatments, according to the New York Times. Seven years later, his father died at the age of 77 from colon cancer and atherosclerotic heart disease, according to EWTN News.
What will the treatment be for the pope?
Leo’s nodule was found in his right lung, and surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung.
The right lung has three lobes, and the left has two, to make room for the heart on the left side of the chest. After one lobe is removed, the remaining lung tissue gradually compensates, especially in otherwise healthy and active patients.
According to Harvard Health, the patient’s lymph nodes are typically removed or sampled to determine if the cancer has spread. Depending upon how far the cancer has spread, treatment may include radiation or chemotherapy.
POPE LEO XIV SUCCESSFULLY UNDERGOES OPERATION TO REMOVE NODULE FROM LUNG
What happens next?
Prior to the surgery, the Vatican said Leo was expected to spend a week recovering in the hospital and would not take any audiences until Oct. 20.
A Vatican spokesman said that, as of Wednesday morning, the pope’s plan to travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17 remains unchanged. The South American visit, covering roughly 19,000 miles with dozens of flights and two helicopter rides, would be the longest trip of his papacy to date.
Leo spent two decades as a missionary in Peru and holds Peruvian citizenship.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori told reporters that she and her countrymen will “understand that there could be some changes to the schedule of his visit.”
“We hope his recovery will be swift and that his visit can go ahead, but we will also understand if that is not possible,” Fujimori said. “What matters most is that His Holiness regains his health.”
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
