Pope Leo has lung cancer and had part of one lung removed

Vatican confirms Pope Leo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during surgery in Rome today

Pope Leo XIV was greeted by medical director Andrea Cambieri as he arrived at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome for the operation to remove a lung nodule. Picture: Gregorio Borgia/AP

Pope Leo has lung cancer and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during surgery in Rome, the Vatican has said.

The tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin, after Leo XIV had an operation on Tuesday.

It said the diagnosis had been suspected by preoperative tests and was confirmed during the operation.

The 71-year-old was in the operating theatre for about three hours, the statement said.

The surgery itself lasted approximately 90 minutes.

“The surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” the statement added.

Pope Leo had walked into Rome’s Gemelli hospital through the main entrance earlier in the day and waved to dozens of well-wishers who had gathered to greet him.

The Vatican had said the surgery would be performed by a team led by Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon, Dr Stefano Margaritora.

The operation got under way as medical staff recited the Rosary prayer in the hospital chapel Tuesday evening.

“Let us join together in prayer, asking the Lord to sustain our bishop, Pope Leo, and to comfort all those who are hospitalised here,” said the Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, at the start of the prayer.

The American pontiff has offered a rare level of transparency about the first publicly disclosed major health problem of his 17-month papacy. 

He revealed the discovery of the small, localised nodule during his Sunday noon prayer and announced that he would have it removed.

Pope Leo arriving at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome today, Tuesday, for his operation. Picture: AP

Oncologists say even if the nodule turns out to be cancerous, Leo’s prognosis is “excellent” since it will have been removed at an early stage.

The surgery, which is usually performed under general anaesthesia, will require a weeklong hospital stay and the Vatican on Monday cancelled all Leo’s audiences through until October 20.