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What happened during Pope Leo XIV's lung surgery?

Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove a localised cancerous nodule from his right lung. Doctors confirmed the growth was completely excised, leaving the pontiff requiring no further therapy as he resumes his public schedule.

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Key facts

  • Pope Leo XIV had the lower lobe of his right lung surgically excised at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
  • Pathology testing confirmed the extracted growth was a localised lung adenocarcinoma.
  • Doctors announced that the 71-year-old pontiff requires no additional medical therapy.
  • The pontiff was discharged four days after surgery and resumed public appearances.

Why did the Pope undergo surgery?

Pope Leo XIV was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital to undergo a 90-minute surgical procedure on 13 October. Surgeons extracted the lower lobe of his right lung to excise a malignant growth.

The pontiff had previously told crowds in St Peter's Square during a Sunday address that doctors discovered an early nodule requiring removal. Vatican officials noted that the 71-year-old had experienced no external symptoms or respiratory infections before the procedure, which concluded without complications.

What did doctors discover about the tumor?

Pathology examinations performed on the excised tissue established that the growth was a localised lung adenocarcinoma. The result aligned with the preliminary conclusions reached by his medical team prior to the operation.

Following an oncological evaluation after the procedure, the Vatican announced that the Pope will not need any further medical therapy for the condition.

How did his recovery proceed in the hospital?

The pontiff recovered on the hospital's tenth floor, where post-operative checks including blood tests and chest X-rays showed steady healing. Photographs showed him celebrating Mass in green vestments before an improvised altar alongside hospital staff.

Even while hospitalised, Pope Leo maintained diplomatic contacts. He held telephone discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge dialogue and an Oleshky ceasefire for food deliveries, and later spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

When did the pontiff resume his duties?

Attending physicians Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora cleared the Pope to leave the Gemelli facility four days after surgery. He greeted members of the public outside the clinic before returning to his residence.

Upon his discharge, Pope Leo resumed his official schedule, leading the Sunday Angelus and addressing crowds at his standard Wednesday general audience in St Peter's Square.

Timeline

  1. Oct 13, 2026Pope Leo XIV undergoes a 90-minute operation at Gemelli Hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
  2. Oct 16, 2026The Vatican releases photographs of the Pope celebrating Mass in his hospital room, and he speaks by phone with Vladimir Putin.
  3. Oct 17, 2026Doctors clear the Pope to leave Gemelli Hospital, and he returns to his residence.
  4. Oct 19, 2026The pontiff holds a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
  5. Oct 21, 2026The Vatican announces pathology results confirming a localised adenocarcinoma and states the Pope needs no additional therapy as he conducts his general audience.

What happens next?

Pope Leo XIV plans to proceed as scheduled with an official journey to Latin America in early November.

This explainer was written with AI assistance from REALNEWS HUB's own reporting listed below, and reviewed before publication. How we use AI

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