The 71 year old pontiff had previously described the lesion as a small, well localized nodule caught at an early stage. This is the first major health crisis for the first U.S. born pope since his appointment 17 months ago. He is recovering at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, with the Vatican expecting a recovery period of approximately one week.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Vatican Diagnoses Pope Leo XIV With Lung Cancer After Lobe Removal
World7 days ago
A surgical team removed the lower lobe of Pope Leo XIV's right lung on Tuesday in a procedure that lasted about 90 minutes. A subsequent medical bulletin from the Vatican confirmed the growth was lung adenocarcinoma, though officials stated the surgery was successful and completed without complications.
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