Pope Leo Recovers After Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV has resumed limited papal duties while recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after surgery to remove a portion of his right lung and a diagnosis of lung cancer. The Vatican said Thursday that Leo celebrated Mass, read documents and met with Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, an undersecretary of state. He also underwent routine checks, including a chest X-ray, and at least one physiotherapy session. Leo’s doctors, personal physician Dr. Luigi Carbone and thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora, said the X-ray showed “good recovery of the operated lung” and that his postoperative recovery was progressing as expected. The Vatican expects him to leave the hospital on Oct. 20, a week after his admission. He would like to lead the Angelus prayer from the hospital on Sunday, though it has not been confirmed whether he will do so. His audiences are canceled through Oct. 20. The Vatican announced the cancer diagnosis on Tuesday, after preoperative tests had indicated a possible malignancy. During a 90-minute operation, surgeons removed a lobe of the right lung containing a nodular lesion. The Vatican has not disclosed the cancer’s stage or genetic characteristics. The article places Leo’s return to work in the context of popes continuing public duties despite illness. Candida Moss, a theology professor at the University of Birmingham, said it is typical for popes to maintain their schedules as much as they can, while Vatican protocols allow cardinals and aides to assume duties. She cited Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II, who continued participating in Catholic liturgies amid health problems. Leo is expected to travel to South America next month; the Vatican referenced his recent remarks that he looked forward to the trip.

Pope Leo XIV was recovering after surgery to remove a lobe of his right lung, following a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of non-small cell lung cancer. The Vatican reported that his blood tests and chest X-ray showed a normal post-operative course, and that he had begun respiratory physiotherapy, walking around his room, and eating a regular diet. He was expected to remain hospitalized for about a week. Doctors interviewed by CBS News said that a localized lung lesion can sometimes be cured through surgery alone, and that the pope’s ability to undergo surgery promptly may suggest the cancer was detected at an early stage. However, the Vatican has not disclosed the cancer’s stage or whether it has spread, so the need for further treatment remains unknown. If cancer has reached the lymph nodes, that could affect both prognosis and treatment. Doctors said additional tests, including examinations of the tumor’s genetic features and markers, can help guide decisions. Recovery from this type of operation typically takes a few weeks. One surgeon said Leo might experience pain for days or up to one or two weeks, while another estimated he could return to his usual activities in three to four weeks, perhaps at a slower pace. The article emphasizes that these assessments are based on general medical knowledge and comments from physicians who are not involved in the pope’s care; his individual outlook depends on findings not yet made public.

President Donald Trump wished Pope Leo XIV a speedy recovery Wednesday after the Vatican announced that the pope had been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling from Arizona to Montana, Trump said he had heard the prognosis was good and offered the pope his love and best wishes. He described cancer as a serious illness but expressed optimism about Leo’s recovery after surgery to remove part of his right lung. Trump also spoke warmly about his friendship with the pope’s brother and the brother’s wife, calling them enthusiastic supporters who have “MAGA all over” their house. He said the pope’s brother loves him and reiterated his hope that Leo would get better quickly. The Vatican’s announcement came a day earlier. Leo was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after surgery at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome. The Holy See Press Office said doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung in a procedure lasting about 90 minutes, with no complications reported. Examination of tissue collected during the operation confirmed the cancer diagnosis and was consistent with tests performed before surgery. Leo had previously said doctors found a small lump in his lung at an early stage and recommended an operation. According to the Vatican, he awoke normally after surgery and returned to his hospital room following a brief observation period. The article also notes that Pope Leo met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Vatican City the previous May. Fox News Digital contributors Anders Hagstrom and Jasmine Baehr contributed reporting; Brittany Miller is identified as the article’s author.

The article explains why Rome’s Gemelli Hospital is known as the “hospital of the popes” and describes its facilities, history, and relationship with the Vatican. Located about five kilometres from Vatican City, Gemelli is a major medical and teaching centre with more than 1,600 beds and a range of medical specialties. It is affiliated with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and has a dedicated papal suite on its 10th floor, including a private chapel. That suite is being renovated, so Pope Leo is recovering from surgery for lung cancer in other rooms. The article also notes Gemelli’s standing in an international hospital ranking: it was named Italy’s top hospital and placed 33rd globally in the 2026 Newsweek-Statista rankings. The hospital became closely associated with papal medical care during the pontificate of John Paul II. Before then, popes were generally treated at their residences; Paul VI, for example, had prostate surgery in an operating room set up in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. After an assassination attempt in 1981, John Paul II was taken to Gemelli for emergency surgery. He returned there frequently over the years, spending more than 150 days at the hospital and calling it “Vatican III,” after the Vatican and Castel Gandolfo. Benedict XVI was not admitted to the hospital while pope. Francis, who died in April 2025, was hospitalised there multiple times for colon surgery, respiratory problems, abdominal surgery, and bilateral pneumonia. Although Gemelli was built on land donated by Pope Pius XI in 1934 and is named for university founder Agostino Gemelli, it is not owned or operated by the Vatican. It is a private, nonprofit academic medical centre within Italy’s healthcare system, and most patients receive care through the public health service. The Vatican does own another Rome hospital, Bambino Gesù, which specialises in paediatric care.