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Vatican Surgery of Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung surgery

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Rome's Gemelli Hospital following surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung on October 13, 2026. The Holy See Press Office reported that a tissue examination during the procedure confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

The 90-minute operation was completed successfully without complications. Following the surgery, the 71-year-old pope woke up normally and returned to his room on the 10th floor. Vatican medical updates indicate his recovery is progressing as expected, noting that he has begun respiratory therapy, can walk around his room, and is able to eat.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed spiritual solidarity with the pope. Bishop Pierre Goudreault, president of the conference, sent a letter to the Holy Father assuring him of the prayers of the Church in Canada and requesting his apostolic blessing. Similarly, Bishop Michael Brehl of the Diocese of Pembroke urged the faithful to include the pope in their personal prayers and Eucharistic intentions.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

7 sources23 reports8 languages

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  6. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova and Notre Dame universities
  7. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  8. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  10. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  11. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Monday 19 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery for lung cancer

Earlier version, Friday 16 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery to remove lung tumor

Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung cancer surgery

Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 3:02 PM Vatican News BE Урачы паведамілі падрабязнасці аперацыі Пантыфіка
  2. Oct 14, 12:20 AM Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev BE Урачы паведамілі падрабязнасці аперацыі Пантыфіка
  3. Oct 14, 12:00 AM Diocese of Grodno BE Урачы паведамілі падрабязнасці аперацыі Пантыфіка
  4. Oct 14, 11:07 AM The Catholic Register Canada’s Catholics offer Pope Leo prayers, support after lung cancer diagnosis
  5. Oct 14, 11:12 AM Diocese of Hamilton Prayers for Pope Leo XIV
  6. Oct 15, 5:46 AM ZENIT News Agency Français Léon XIV : une convalescence encourageante
  7. Oct 15, 6:52 AM Diocese of Saint Augustine Diocese of St. Augustine joins worldwide prayers for Pope Leo XIV
  8. Oct 15, 9:53 AM Diocese of Pembroke Prayers for Pope Leo XIV – Oct. 14, 2026
  9. Oct 14, 7:27 AM L'Osservatore Romano Italiano La Chiesa si stringe attorno a Leone XIV - Vicinanza e affetto per il Papa da Roma al mondo una comunità in preghiera
  10. Oct 15, 2:08 AM RomaSette Italiano La Chiesa di Roma accanto al Papa nella preghiera
  11. Oct 15, 11:59 AM Crisis Point When the Pope Is Sick: Who Runs the Church?
  12. Oct 15, 7:12 AM Diocese of Antigonish Prayers for Pope Leo XIV
  13. Oct 15, 10:30 PM Vatican News Español La semana del Papa León XIV
  14. Oct 16, 4:10 PM Aleteia Polski Zaskakująca zbieżność daty operacji papieża Leona XIV
  15. Oct 16, 8:34 AM Diocese of Grouard–McLennan Canadian Bishops Pray for Pope Leo XIV Following Surgery
  16. Oct 17, 1:25 PM Aleteia The surgeon who operated on Leo XIV: “An ideal patient”
  17. Oct 19, 12:58 AM Aleteia Português O cirurgião que operou Leão XIV: “Um paciente ideal”
  18. Oct 19, 9:03 AM Aleteia Français Léon XIV, « un patient idéal » selon son chirurgien
  19. Oct 13, 3:39 PM The Catholic Sun Bishop Dolan’s remarks on Pope Leo XIV’s cancer diagnosis
  20. Oct 14, 5:00 AM Die Tagespost Deutsch Die Krebsdiagnose des Papstes wirft Fragen auf
  21. Oct 14, 10:55 AM La Croix Français Santé du pape : un début de pontificat percuté par le diagnostic d’un cancer du poumon
  22. Oct 15, 12:00 AM Exaudi Español El Papa, el (su) cáncer y las preguntas que todos preferimos aplazar
  23. Oct 15, 12:40 AM Crux Pope Leo XIV’s cancer diagnosis raises questions about the future and the very recent past

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  6. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova and Notre Dame universities
  7. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  8. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  10. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  11. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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