VATICAN CITY, October 22, 2026 — A serious medical diagnosis involving Pope Leo XIV has drawn international attention after Vatican officials confirmed that the 71-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Church underwent surgery in Rome to remove a cancerous growth from his right lung.
The diagnosis, identified as lung adenocarcinoma, was confirmed during an operation at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on October 13, 2026. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pontiff’s right lung in a procedure designed to eliminate the localized tumor.
The Pope spent approximately three hours in the operating room, although the surgical procedure itself lasted around 90 minutes. Doctors subsequently confirmed that the operation had been completed successfully without complicationsRead more below.
