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Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung cancer surgery

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung on Oct. 13, 2026, at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. Following the procedure, the Vatican announced that medical examinations confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Dr. Stefano Margaritora, chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli Hospital, and Dr. Luigi Carbone issued a joint statement confirming the diagnosis, which had been suspected during preoperative testing. The pope has returned to his hospital room and is expected to remain at Gemelli Hospital for one week of recovery. Doctors plan to conduct further tests on the removed tissue in the coming days.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops urged the faithful to pray for the pope, his medical team, and those living with cancer. In the United States, the Archdiocese of New York asked for strength and peace for the pope, while Bishop David M. O'Connell and the Diocese of Trenton expressed well wishes for his recovery. Archbishop Andrew Nkea of Bamenda, Cameroon, noted that the diagnosis was surprising because the pope had appeared to be in good health during an apostolic visit to Africa in April.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

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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
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  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
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  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

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Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer

Earlier version, Wednesday 14 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery for lung cancer

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 4:31 PM Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend US bishops, lawmakers offer prayers for Pope Leo after cancer diagnosis
  2. Oct 14, 3:39 AM Vatican News Tiếng Việt Các Giám mục và giới chức Hoa Kỳ cầu nguyện cho Đức Thánh Cha sau chẩn đoán ngài bị ung thư
  3. Oct 14, 9:00 AM The Catholic Sun Prayers, well-wishes pour in after pope’s lung cancer diagnosis
  4. Oct 14, 8:35 AM The Tablet US Bishops, Lawmakers Offer Prayers for Pope Leo After Cancer Diagnosis
  5. Oct 14, 8:59 AM The Catholic Telegraph Prayers, well-wishes pour in after pope’s lung cancer diagnosis
  6. Oct 14, 10:14 AM The Catholic Register Prayers, well-wishes pour in after Pope's lung cancer diagnosis
  7. Oct 14, 10:49 AM The Catholic Spirit Prayers, well-wishes pour in after pope’s lung cancer diagnosis
  8. Oct 14, 8:55 AM OSV News Prayers, well-wishes pour in after pope’s lung cancer diagnosis
  9. Oct 14, 8:22 AM The Central Minnesota Catholic US bishops, lawmakers, Bishop Neary offer prayers for Pope Leo after cancer diagnosis
  10. Oct 14, 11:45 AM National Catholic Reporter Prayers, well-wishes pour in after pope's lung cancer diagnosis
  11. Oct 14, 12:58 PM The Monitor US bishops, lawmakers offer prayers for Pope Leo after cancer diagnosis
  12. Oct 14, 12:52 PM The Monitor Español Obispos y legisladores de EEUU rezan por el Papa León tras su diagnóstico de cáncer
  13. Oct 14, 3:24 PM Crux Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer called adenocarcinoma. Here’s what that means
  14. Oct 14, 5:42 PM Archdiocese of Huê Tiếng Việt Các Giám mục và giới chức Hoa Kỳ cầu nguyện cho ĐTC Lêô XIV sau chẩn đoán ngài bị ung thư
  15. Oct 15, 9:45 AM The Central Minnesota Catholic Español Obispos y legisladores de EEUU rezan por el Papa León tras su diagnóstico de cáncer
  16. Oct 15, 7:53 AM Stacja7 Polski Gruczolakorak płuca u Leona XIV. Lekarz pulmonolog wyjaśnia, co oznacza diagnoza papieża

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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