ROME, Oct 14 – Pope Leo XIV spent a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli hospital after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, with medical tests confirming that the growth was cancerous, the Vatican said Wednesday. The 71-year-old pontiff’s recovery is being closely monitored as doctors await additional test results to determine whether he will require further treatment.
The operation confirmed that Leo has lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, according to a medical bulletin released by the Vatican late Tuesday. Although the surgery was described as successful and without complications, the full implications for the pope’s long-term health remain uncertain until doctors establish the stage of the disease and determine whether cancer cells have spread beyond the affected area.
The Vatican said physicians were reviewing further test results before deciding on the next steps in his care. Its medical statement referred to the removal of the lung lobe as “radical,” suggesting that surgeons had removed the entire affected section in an effort to eliminate the suspected cancerous tissue. However, that does not by itself establish whether the disease was confined to the removed tissue.
The American-born pope has maintained an unusual degree of openness about his health during the first 17 months of his papacy. He publicly disclosed the discovery of a lung nodule during his Sunday noon prayer, providing an early indication of the medical issue that subsequently led to his hospitalization and surgery.
Doctors Await Test Results to Determine Cancer Stage and Treatment
The immediate priority for Leo’s medical team is to establish the extent of the cancer and determine whether the operation will be sufficient or whether additional treatment is necessary. The results of tests involving the pope’s lymph nodes are expected to be particularly important in assessing whether the disease has spread beyond the lung.
During surgery for lung cancer, doctors commonly remove and examine nearby lymph nodes to look for evidence of cancer cells. The findings can help specialists determine the stage of the disease and guide decisions about treatment after surgery. No results from such testing were disclosed in the Vatican’s initial medical update.
Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer specialist at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center who is not involved in the pope’s treatment, said adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer and generally has a more favorable outlook than some other types of the disease. He cautioned, however, that the diagnosis alone is not enough to determine an individual patient’s prognosis.
Doctors need to establish the size of the tumor, how many nodules are present and whether the lymph nodes contain cancer, Liu explained. Those details will help determine whether the disease was detected at an early stage or whether it requires a more extensive treatment plan.
If additional cancer is identified, treatment options could include chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. The appropriate approach would depend on the cancer’s stage and other medical findings. Targeted treatments, which can include oral medications, are designed to act on particular characteristics of cancer cells.
The Vatican has not announced which, if any, of these treatments Leo might receive. Its press office said further information would be provided later Wednesday as more details became available.
Before the operation, oncologists had indicated that the pope’s outlook could be excellent if the nodule proved cancerous but was removed while the disease remained at an early stage. The latest diagnosis has made the outstanding test results central to assessing that possibility.
The operation lasted about three hours from the time Leo entered the operating room until its completion, while the surgical procedure itself took approximately 90 minutes, according to the Vatican’s Tuesday statement.
“The surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” the statement said, adding that the pope returned to his hospital room afterward.
The procedure was led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli hospital. Before entering the hospital, Leo walked through its main entrance and waved to dozens of people who had gathered to greet him. His appearance offered supporters a brief public glimpse of the pontiff before the operation.
The removal of a lung lobe is a significant procedure, but patients can often continue breathing with the remaining lung tissue. The right lung has three lobes, while the left lung has two. After one lobe is removed, the remaining portions can gradually compensate for some of the lost capacity, although recovery varies according to a patient’s overall health, lung function and the extent of the surgery.
Leo is known to enjoy physical activities, including swimming and weekly tennis games. His general fitness could be relevant to his recovery, although his medical team will need to assess his condition before determining how quickly he can resume normal duties.
Gemelli hospital has a dedicated papal apartment on its 10th floor, including a private chapel, which has been used by previous popes during hospital stays. Leo, however, is staying in a nearby hospital room because the apartment is undergoing renovations, according to the Vatican press office.
Vatican Cancels Papal Audiences as November South America Trip Faces Uncertainty
The pope’s hospitalization has also raised questions about his ability to maintain his public schedule in the coming weeks. The Vatican announced Monday that all his audiences through Oct. 20 had been canceled, allowing him time to undergo surgery and recover.
The immediate priority remains his health, and the Vatican has not confirmed whether the changes to his schedule will extend beyond that date. His medical team will need to evaluate his progress before decisions can be made about public appearances, travel and other responsibilities associated with the papacy.
Particular attention is focused on a planned trip to South America from Nov. 6 to Nov. 17. The itinerary includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, making it one of the most extensive international journeys planned during Leo’s papacy so far.
The trip is expected to involve more than 31,000 kilometers, or approximately 19,000 miles, of travel across a dozen flights and two helicopter rides. The schedule also includes significant changes in altitude in Peru, which could add to the physical demands of the journey while the pope is recovering from lung surgery.
Medical specialists often advise patients to avoid flying for about three weeks after major lung surgery, although the appropriate recovery period depends on the individual patient and the circumstances of the procedure. Based on that general timeframe, Leo could have just enough time to recover before the scheduled departure. However, the timing alone does not mean he will be medically cleared to travel.
Liu said the decision would depend largely on the stage of the cancer and whether additional treatment was needed. If the disease is found to be at Stage 1 and surgery proves sufficient, completing the trip could remain possible. If further treatment becomes necessary, he would be more likely to advise against such demanding travel.
The distinction is important because the recovery period could involve more than healing from the operation itself. Should doctors recommend chemotherapy or another treatment, the pope’s ability to undertake a lengthy international itinerary could be affected by the treatment schedule and its potential side effects.
For now, neither the Vatican nor Leo’s medical team has announced a final decision on the November journey. The pope’s recovery, the results of the pending tests and the need for any additional therapy are expected to shape the next steps.
Leo’s diagnosis marks a major health development in a papacy that had not previously disclosed a comparable medical problem publicly. While the successful operation and peaceful night in hospital provide encouraging early signs, doctors have yet to establish the full extent of the disease.
Until those findings become available, the outlook for the pope’s longer-term health and his ability to resume his full schedule remains uncertain. The Vatican is expected to provide further updates as his recovery continues and physicians determine whether the surgery has removed the cancer completely or whether additional care will be required.