Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer following surgery, Vatican says

Published October 13, 2026 4:35pm ET | Updated October 13, 2026 5:12pm ET



Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after having a nodule removed from his lung, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.

The Holy Father underwent surgery at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to remove the nodule, which he had previously characterized as minor and treatable. The Vatican said in a statement that an examination confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, a form of small-cell lung cancer.

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