> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bushletter.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Surgery confirms Pope Leo has cancer in his right lung - URL: https://www.bushletter.com/pope-leo-xiv-has-lung-cancer-after-surgeons-remove-right-lung-lobe/ - Published: 2026-10-14T00:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-14T00:49:19.000Z - Description: The Vatican says surgeons removed the lower lobe without complications. All public audiences are cancelled until 20 October while he recovers in hospital. - Author: Bushletter Newsroom - Tags: News, Health, Europe, Pope Leo XIV TLDR Surgeons removed the lower lobe of Pope Leo XIV's right lung on 13 October 2026, with an intraoperative biopsy confirming lung adenocarcinoma. The 71-year-old pope faces about a week in hospital, with all papal audiences cancelled until 20 October in the first major health event of his papacy. ## Surgery confirmed cancer in right lung Pope Leo XIV underwent a planned lobectomy at Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on 13 October 2026, with surgeons removing the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted technique.[\[1\]](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/10/13/261013b.html?ref=bushletter.com) An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.[\[1\]](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/10/13/261013b.html?ref=bushletter.com) The Vatican said the operation lasted about 90 minutes, with the Pope in theatre for approximately three hours in total, and that no complications arose.[\[1\]](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/10/13/261013b.html?ref=bushletter.com) The surgical team was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora and assisted by Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr Maria Teresa Congedo and Dr Leonardo Petracca Caravella, with anaesthesia provided by Professor Massimo Antonelli, Dr Giovanni Punzo and Dr Giuseppe Bello.[\[1\]](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/10/13/261013b.html?ref=bushletter.com) ## What adenocarcinoma and a lobectomy mean Adenocarcinoma is a cancer that forms in glandular tissue lining internal organs that produce fluids or mucus, according to the US National Cancer Institute.[\[2\]](https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/adenocarcinoma?ref=bushletter.com) It is the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer. A lobectomy removes an entire lobe of an organ such as a lung and is the standard surgical response when a tumour is localised to one lobe.[\[3\]](https://seer.cancer.gov/archive/manuals/historic/training%5Faids.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) Gemelli's thoracic surgery unit, headed by Professor Margaritora, admitted Pope Leo XIV on 13 October as planned.[\[4\]](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2026/10/13/261013a.html?ref=bushletter.com) The hospital has a long history of treating popes, with a secured suite on its tenth floor used for successive pontiffs' medical care. ## How the Pope disclosed the diagnosis Two days before the operation, at his Sunday noon prayer on 11 October, Leo XIV told the gathered faithful about the nodule in his own words. "During some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung," he said. "It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it."[\[5\]](https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2026/documents/20261011-angelus.html?ref=bushletter.com) Leo XIV, aged 71, became the first US-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church when elected in May 2025, and the operation is the first significant health event of his 17-month papacy.[\[5\]](https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2026/documents/20261011-angelus.html?ref=bushletter.com) ## Recovery and cancelled engagements The Prefecture of the Papal Household announced on 12 October that all audiences would be cancelled until Tuesday 20 October 2026.[\[6\]](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/10/12/291012f.html?ref=bushletter.com) The Vatican has not released a schedule of further treatment. Its post-surgical bulletin said the operation was successful with no complications, and the Pope is expected to spend about a week recovering in hospital, the ABC reported.[\[7\]](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-14/pope-leo-has-lobe-of-lung-removed-as-doctors-find-cancer/107263034?ref=bushletter.com) KEY TAKEAWAYS 01Surgeons removed the lower lobe of Pope Leo XIV's right lung on 13 October 2026 with no complications. 02An intraoperative biopsy confirmed the diagnosis as lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of non-small cell lung cancer. 03The operation lasted about 90 minutes; the Pope spent approximately three hours in the operating theatre in total. 04All public audiences are cancelled until 20 October while he recovers at Rome's Gemelli hospital. 05Leo XIV disclosed the lung nodule himself at his Sunday noon prayer, describing it as caught at a very early stage. SOURCES & CITATIONS 1. [Vatican Press Office bulletin: surgical procedure, 13 October 2026](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/10/13/261013b.html?ref=bushletter.com) 2. [NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: adenocarcinoma](https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/adenocarcinoma?ref=bushletter.com) 3. [SEER training aids: lobectomy definition](https://seer.cancer.gov/archive/manuals/historic/training%5Faids.pdf?ref=bushletter.com) 4. [Vatican Press Office: admission to Gemelli hospital, 13 October 2026](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2026/10/13/261013a.html?ref=bushletter.com) 5. [Pope Leo XIV Angelus address, 11 October 2026](https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2026/documents/20261011-angelus.html?ref=bushletter.com) 6. [Prefecture of the Papal Household: audiences cancelled until 20 October](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/10/12/291012f.html?ref=bushletter.com) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What type of cancer does Pope Leo XIV have? An intraoperative biopsy confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer. It arises in glandular cells that line the lung. What surgery did Pope Leo XIV have? Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung in a procedure called a lobectomy, performed using a video-assisted technique. The operation lasted about 90 minutes. When will the Pope return to public duties? All papal audiences are cancelled until Tuesday 20 October 2026\. The Vatican said he is expected to remain at Gemelli hospital for about a week following the 13 October surgery.