Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Successful Lung Surgery

Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Doctors performed surgery to remove a part of his lung. The Vatican announced that the procedure was to remove a cancerous growth.

The surgery took place at Gemelli Hospital. It involved the removal of the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung. This was confirmed by a statement from Leo’s doctors, shared by the church. Post-surgery examination of the lung tissue confirmed earlier tests. These tests had revealed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, according to the Vatican.

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer in the United States. It accounts for about 40% of all lung cancers, as reported by the Lung Cancer Foundation of America.

The surgery lasted approximately 90 minutes and was successful. Pope Leo XIV awoke normally after the procedure. Following a short observation period, he returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor.

At 71 years old, Pope Leo XIV is relatively young for a pontiff. He maintains an active lifestyle, engaging in regular workouts, weekly tennis matches with his secretary, and horseback riding at Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat.

Although the Pope does not have a history of smoking, cancer has affected his family. On Tuesday, the Vatican shared that Leo’s older brother, Louis, is hospitalized in Florida with a form of cancer. Leo’s mother, Mildred, passed away from cancer in 1990 at age 77. Back in 1984, while living in Rome, the future Pope wrote to his friends about his mother’s chemotherapy treatments. He described her as “a tough lady,” which provided some comfort despite being far from Chicago.

The Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV has cleared his public schedule until at least October 20. Further treatments have not yet been revealed.