Reporting from Rome and Vatican City, The New York Times stated that Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer on Tuesday, resulting in the surgical removal of the lower lobe of his right lung. Preoperative evaluations had already raised suspicion of the disease, and intraoperative testing confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. The medical procedure required roughly 90 minutes, with the 71-year-old pontiff remaining in the operating suite for approximately three hours, though the Vatican reported that the operation concluded successfully without any complications.
Medical officials have not yet clarified whether the pope will undergo subsequent treatments, with a Vatican spokesperson stating simply that the official announcement stood on its own. Following the procedure, a restful night was reported by the Vatican on Wednesday.
Dr. Sudish Murthy of the Cleveland Clinic indicated that available data points toward early-stage disease, which generally boasts a very high survival rate when treated surgically. Recovery is expected to take about a week at the Policlinico A. Gemelli hospital in Rome, where the pontiff is anticipated to remain hospitalized for roughly a week of recovery while all scheduled audiences are suspended through October 20.
Having assumed leadership of the Roman Catholic Church as the first American pontiff in May 2025, Leo received this cancer diagnosis only about a year and a half into his papacy. Despite the diagnosis, travel plans to South America next month remain unchanged according to a Vatican spokesperson, who confirmed that Leo was fully aware of his condition when he addressed the public on Sunday.
Dr. Lorenzo Spaggiari emphasized that contemporary treatments mean patients can successfully recover from lung tumors if caught early. The pope's family medical history reveals multiple cancer diagnoses, with his mother, Mildred Martinez, passing away at age 78 following cancer treatment and chemotherapy, while his father, Louis Prevost, succumbed to colon cancer and atherosclerotic heart disease at age 77. Leo's brother, Louis Prevost, received a prior diagnosis of multiple myeloma as reported by The Tampa Bay Times.
Administrative duties will be handled by the Vatican bureaucracy while the pontiff recovers, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside over a scheduled Mass in his absence. Well-wishes flooded in from global leaders and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
