On Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, the Vatican disclosed that Pope Leo XIV entered Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for a scheduled operation that would both diagnose and treat a suspicious lung nodule. The procedure, led by chief thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora involved the removal of the lower lobe of the pontiff’s right lung. Hospital officials reported that the total time in the operating theatre was roughly three hours, while the actual resection lasted about ninety minutes. After a brief observation period, the Pope awoke without complications and returned to a private room on the building’s 10th floor.
The tissue extracted during the surgery was examined and confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma the most prevalent form of lung cancer in the United States. Adenocarcinoma is an epithelial tumor that typically begins in the outer regions of the lung and often has a comparatively favorable prognosis when caught early. Specialists from the Vatican’s medical bulletin noted that the operation was described as “radical,” indicating that surgeons aimed to excise all visible malignant tissue.
While the removal of the lower lobe was successful, doctors also harvested surrounding lymph nodes to assess whether the disease had spread. As of the release, the pathology results for those nodes remain pending. Dr. Stephen Liu of Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center explained that determining the cancer’s stage is crucial: “We need to know the size of the tumor, the number of nodules, and whether the lymph nodes are involved before deciding on further therapy.” Potential treatments could include chemotherapy a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy or targeted oral agents, depending on the staging outcomes.
Pope’s health background and lifestyle
At 71, Pope Leo XIV is relatively young for a pontiff and maintains an active routine, regularly playing tennis with his personal secretary and riding horses at the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo. He is a non-smoker, yet his family history features several cancer cases. His older brother, Louis, currently hospitalized in Florida for an unspecified cancer, and his mother, Mildred, who died of cancer in 1990 at age 77, underscore a hereditary component. A 1984 correspondence reveals that the future pope once wrote, “my mother continues to undergo chemotherapy treatments… she’s a tough lady and handles it all well,” highlighting long-standing family health concerns.
The Vatican has cleared the Pope’s public engagements through Oct. 20, suspending all audiences and appearances. This hiatus also allows time to evaluate the post-operative pathology and to plan any additional interventions. In a brief address at St. Peter’s Square during the Angelus prayer the previous Sunday, Leo explained that the nodule was detected early and that the decision to operate was made in consultation with his physicians.
Impact on upcoming South American pilgrimage
Leo had already announced an extensive pastoral tour of South America slated for Nov. 6-17, covering Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The itinerary involves more than 31,000 kilometres (19,000 miles) of travel, including a dozen flights and two helicopter legs, with a significant altitude change in Peru. Conventional medical guidance suggests a three-week recovery window before long-haul flights, which would place the Pope’s departure just beyond the typical safe period if his recovery proceeds without complications.
Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu of Tokyo, who met the Pope on Monday, reassured observers that the surgery was performed promptly to avoid altering future overseas commitments, and noted that there was “no emergency” requiring immediate intervention. Nonetheless, the final decision on whether the papal delegation will proceed as planned will depend on the forthcoming lymph-node analysis and the Pope’s
Beyond this recent health episode, Pope Leo XIV’s medical history includes a 1985 hospitalization for typhoid fever while serving as a missionary priest in Peru. He has described that experience as a turning point that cemented his commitment to the poor and shaped his path to the papacy. The current health challenge, while serious, comes at a time when he remains physically vigorous, suggesting that, with appropriate treatment, he could continue his ministry and possibly fulfill the ambitious South American journey.
