Pope Leo XIV has lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, after surgeons at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital removed the lower lobe of his right lung on Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Vatican said. The procedure took about 90 minutes, and the 71-year-old pope spent about three hours in the operating room.
The Vatican said “the surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” according to an Associated Press report published by PBS NewsHour. Cancer had been suspected from tests before the operation and was confirmed during it. The Vatican has not disclosed the cancer’s stage, whether lymph nodes were involved or whether the pope will need more treatment.
The pope disclosed on Sunday, Oct. 11, after the Angelus prayer, that doctors had found a small, localized nodule detected at a very early stage. At the time, the Vatican did not say whether the growth was benign or malignant. His diagnosis raises a practical question for many adults: what should you do when a scan finds a lung nodule?
Surgeons Removed a Full Lobe, Not Just the Nodule
A lobectomy removes one of the lung’s five lobes. The right lung has three lobes, and the left has two. Surgeons often choose this operation when they want clear margins around a suspected tumor.
Surgeons removed the lower right lobe using a video-assisted technique, CBS News reported. The approach uses small incisions and a camera instead of opening the chest.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon, led the team. The Vatican said the pope came out of anesthesia normally and returned to his room. Before the surgery, Vatican officials said he would stay in the hospital for about a week, and papal audiences were canceled through Oct. 20, according to Vatican News.
Adenocarcinoma begins in gland-forming cells, usually in the outer parts of the lung. It is a type of non-small cell lung cancer, a group that makes up about 77% of lung cancers, according to the American Cancer Society’s lung cancer statistics. The society estimates about 229,410 new lung cancer cases and 124,990 deaths in the United States in 2026.
Leo is not known to be a smoker, NBC News reported. Adenocarcinoma is the most common lung cancer type in people who have never smoked, a group that falls outside current screening guidelines.
What a Lung Nodule Finding Means for Patients
Lung nodules are common, and most are not cancer. Fewer than 5% turn out to be cancer, according to the American Thoracic Society, as cited by CBS News. Many are found by chance on CT scans ordered for other reasons. A nodule is not a diagnosis, but the finding should not be ignored.
“The worst thing you can do is ignore a lung nodule,” Dr. Dionysis Papadatos-Pastos, a lung cancer specialist at The London Clinic who has not treated the pope, told the Associated Press before the surgery.
Follow-up depends on the nodule’s size, shape and growth, as well as a person’s age and smoking history. A doctor may recommend repeat CT scans, a PET scan, a biopsy or surgery. The American Cancer Society’s guide to lung nodules explains these options.
Screening is a separate step. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a yearly low-dose CT scan for adults ages 50 to 80 who have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history and either still smoke or quit within the past 15 years.
People who have never smoked are generally not eligible for routine screening, so symptoms matter. Warning signs include a cough that does not go away, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, unexplained weight loss and ongoing fatigue.
Anyone with these symptoms should contact a clinician. Severe trouble breathing or chest pain needs emergency care. Patients worried about the cost of follow-up imaging can ask their insurer whether prior authorization is needed and ask the hospital about financial assistance.
Stage, Further Treatment and Travel Remain Open Questions
The most important missing fact is the cancer’s stage. The Vatican’s statement did not say whether the cancer had spread or what further treatment the pope may need, according to CBS News.
Before the operation, oncologists told the Associated Press that the pope’s prognosis would be excellent even if the nodule proved cancerous, because it was found early. That was a general expectation from doctors who have not treated him, not a confirmed outcome.
Many early-stage adenocarcinomas are treated with surgery alone. Others need chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted drugs, depending on the final pathology report, lymph node findings and the tumor’s genetic features.
Travel is another open question. The pope is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17. CBS News noted that patients are typically advised to avoid flying for about three weeks after this type of surgery. The Vatican has not said whether the trip will go ahead.
Oct. 13, 2026: The Vatican confirmed lung adenocarcinoma after surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung and reported no complications.
Oct. 12, 2026: The Vatican canceled audiences through Oct. 20 and said the hospital stay would last about one week.
Oct. 11, 2026: The pope announced after the Sunday Angelus that doctors had found a small, localized nodule.
MedicalDaily will follow new Vatican bulletins, any staging information, the pope’s discharge, and the decision on his November trip.
Key Questions Answered
What did the Vatican confirm about Pope Leo XIV’s health?
The Vatican said surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung on Oct. 13 and confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. It described the surgery as successful with no complications.
Has the Vatican said what stage the cancer is?
No. As of the latest bulletin, the Vatican had not disclosed the stage, whether the cancer spread or whether more treatment is planned.
What is a lobectomy?
A lobectomy is surgery to remove one lobe of a lung. In the pope’s case, surgeons used a video-assisted technique that relies on small incisions and a camera.
Does a lung nodule mean cancer?
Usually not. Fewer than 5% of lung nodules turn out to be cancer, but every nodule should have a follow-up plan set with a clinician.
Who should get lung cancer screening?
Federal guidelines recommend yearly low-dose CT screening for adults ages 50 to 80 with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history who still smoke or quit within the past 15 years. People outside that group should discuss symptoms or concerns with a clinician.
What symptoms should prompt a doctor visit?
A cough that does not go away, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, unexplained weight loss, and ongoing fatigue. Severe trouble breathing or chest pain needs emergency care.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
