Pope diagnosed with lung cancer but had successful surgery, Vatican says

What the report says

The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV, 71, has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after a 90-minute operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. According to the medical bulletin quoted by Nile Post, the procedure was completed successfully and without complications, and the pope awoke normally before being returned to his room after a brief period of observation.

The article says the growth had been found during routine medical checks and was described by the Vatican as being at an early, contained stage. A Vatican source told Agence France-Presse that additional tests were underway to see whether the cancer had spread. The pope is expected to stay in hospital for about a week.

The report also noted that Pope Leo had previously told worshippers from St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that he needed the surgery, saying doctors had advised removal of the nodule. Vatican officials said the diagnosis came as a surprise, but described the pope as calm and confident in recovery. Supporters gathered outside the hospital, where Gemelli has a long association with papal care.

More broadly, the case highlights the Vatican’s handling of the pope’s health in public and the continued attention on his condition as tests continue.