Pope Leo XIV Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer
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Pope Leo has been diagnosed with lung cancer, the Vatican has announced.
The pope first announced on Sunday (October 11), that he would undergo surgery this week after a nodule was found in his lung.
Pulmonary nodules are small spots or growths in the lungs that are often discovered during an X-ray or CT scan. They typically don’t cause symptoms and are usually benign, or noncancerous, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
However, if a nodule looks suspicious or has concerning features, doctors may often order a biopsy or additional testing.
Following his surgery, The Holy See Press Office released a statement from Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, the chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Gemelli Hospital, who performed the operation.
“This morning, the Holy Father underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled after surgery. The results confirm that his postoperative recovery is progressing normally: the values are within the expected range for the type of operation performed,” the statement read.
According to the office, doctors removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung using a video-assisted technique. Tissue examined during the surgery “confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.”
“The Holy Father was in the operating room for about three hours; the surgery itself lasted approximately 90 minutes. The surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” the release continued.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected as the successor to Pope Francis on May 8, 2025. He became the first pope from the United States and the first member of the Augustinian order to lead the Catholic Church.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, the 71 year old spent many years serving as a missionary in Peru, where he later became bishop of Chiclayo and acquired Peruvian citizenship.
Following Pope Francis’ death on April 21, 2025, cardinals gathered in the Vatican for a conclave to elect his successor. Prevost was chosen and took the papal name Leo XIV, beginning a new chapter in the Catholic Church’s history.
