Pope Leo XIV was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The pontiff underwent surgery to remove part of his lung due to a cancerous growth. Alessandra Tarantino from AP provided images from the event.
The operation took place at Gemelli Hospital, where surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung. According to a statement from his medical team, this confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma after testing the tissue. The Lung Cancer Foundation of America notes that adenocarcinoma is the most prevalent type of lung cancer in the United States, accounting for around 40% of cases.
The surgery was reported as successful and lasted approximately 90 minutes. After surgery, Pope Leo XIV regained consciousness normally and, after a brief observation period, returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor.
Leo, at 71 years old, is considered relatively young for a pope and maintains physical activity. He regularly works out, including playing tennis with his secretary, and enjoys horseback riding at Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat. Despite not having smoked, there is a notable family history of cancer.
His older brother Louis, residing in Florida, is currently hospitalized with cancer, and Leo’s mother Mildred passed away from the disease in 1990 at 77. In a 1984 letter to friends, the future Pope wrote about his mother’s enduring chemotherapy treatments with strength, making it somewhat easier for him despite being far from Chicago.
As of Tuesday, the Vatican announced that the Pope has cleared his public schedule until at least October 20. There is no information yet about any further treatments.