Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital after surgery on October 13, 2026, during which doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. According to the Vatican, the operation was completed successfully without complications, and the seventy-one-year-old pontiff regained consciousness normally before returning to his hospital room. The procedure itself lasted approximately ninety minutes, although he spent about three hours in the operating room, including preparation and observation. A medical statement from his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and lead surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, explained that examination of tissue during the operation confirmed the diagnosis suspected from earlier tests. Surgeons used a video-assisted technique to remove the affected lobe. The announcement established the diagnosis and immediate surgical outcome, while leaving important questions about further treatment dependent on additional findings. [USCCB](https://www.usccb.org/news/2026/cancerous-tumor-removed-pope-leos-lung-vatican-says?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Leo had announced the planned operation after the Angelus on Sunday, October 11. He told those gathered that recent medical examinations had identified a small, localized lung nodule at a very early stage and that his doctors recommended removing it. He thanked people for their concern and asked for their prayers. The following day, Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni clarified that the finding had emerged during routine examinations and said the expected hospital stay was approximately one week. The pope continued with scheduled responsibilities before entering Gemelli on Tuesday. His public appearances were canceled through October 20 to allow time for hospitalization and recovery. The medical discovery also raised questions about his planned November 6–17 journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. Whether that itinerary could proceed would depend on his recovery and medical advice. Reports that the nodule was discovered early offered grounds for cautious encouragement, but that description did not replace a formal assessment of the cancer’s stage. The information available before surgery concerned the location of the abnormality and the recommendation to operate; the more detailed diagnosis followed examination of the removed tissue. [Vatican News](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-10/pope-leo-xiv-to-undergo-surgery-remove-nodule-lung.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
The first postoperative reports focused on how Leo was recovering from the procedure. On the morning of October 14, the Vatican said that he had spent a calm night. Officials also reported that he had requested dinner after surgery and spent time with his secretaries and other Vatican staff. Later updates said he had resumed eating normally, begun walking around his room, and started respiratory physical therapy. Blood tests and a chest X-ray were described as consistent with the expected course of recovery. He also celebrated Mass in a specially arranged hospital chapel. These developments provided a picture of his immediate condition, but they did not answer whether any cancer remained outside the tissue removed. Further examination was needed to guide that assessment. At the time of those updates, the Vatican had not publicly provided a complete cancer stage, definitive lymph-node findings, or a final plan for additional treatment. The distinction is important: recovering as expected from surgery and establishing the longer-term outlook are related but separate parts of medical care. [Vatican News](https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-10/pope-leo-gemelli-hospital-holy-see-press-office-update-14-0ctobe.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)