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The Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV underwent a planned operation at Gemelli Hospital in which the lower lobe of his right lung was removed through video-assisted radical surgery. Testing performed before the procedure and the subsequent histological examination confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as doctors had suspected.

The 71-year-old pontiff spent about three hours in the operating room, with the surgery itself lasting roughly 90 minutes, and the Vatican said the operation was successful. He awoke normally and, after a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the hospital's 10th floor. The Vatican has cancelled all of his engagements through October 20 and said a recovery period of about one week is expected.

Pope Leo XIV disclosed the discovery of a lung nodule on October 11 during the traditional Sunday prayer from the window of his office overlooking Saint Peter's Square, saying he had decided to have surgery on his doctors' advice and asking for prayers. Italian media noted that it was the first time a pope had transparently announced an upcoming operation during the Sunday address. Born Robert Francis Prevost in the United States, he was elected pope on May 8, 2025, after the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025.

Key Takeaways

• The Vatican said histology confirmed lung adenocarcinoma after the lower lobe of the pope's right lung was removed.
• The operation went successfully; the pope awoke normally and all his engagements are cancelled through October 20.
• Leo XIV revealed the lung nodule on October 11 during the Sunday prayer, the first such transparent announcement by a pope, according to Italian media.