Pope Leo XIV is recovering in his room at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic after a successful operation on Tuesday removed the lower lobe of his right lung to treat an early-stage pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the Vatican press office confirmed.
The Holy See said in a public statement that the intervention “concluded positively, within the expected timeframe and as planned,” and that the pontiff had returned to his room.
The operation was led by thoracic surgeon Stefano Margaritora, a specialist with extensive experience in this kind of intervention who headed a multidisciplinary team at the Gemelli Polyclinic.
RELATED: Worldwide Prayer Chain for the Health of Pope Leo XIV
To ensure the procedure was radical, surgeons removed the lower lobe of the right lung using a video-assisted technique. An in situ histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer that develops in glandular tissue, exactly as the preoperative tests had suggested.
Doctors expect Pope Leo to remain there for about a week while his recovery is monitored.
Pope Leo XIV underwent thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, as planned, according to a statement from Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora released by the Holy See Press Office.
The surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung,… pic.twitter.com/QAShHu1eG6
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 13, 2026
Pope Leo XIV had announced the surgery last Sunday after the Angelus prayer, once medical examinations confirmed that the nodule had been detected at a very early stage and was well localized. That announcement drew a wave of international solidarity, with prayers and messages of support arriving from the faithful and religious communities around the world.
The Vatican disclosed the clinical details shortly after the procedure concluded, reflecting a notable degree of openness about the pontiff’s health. Officials confirmed that the diagnosis matched what the preoperative tests had indicated, and that no complications arose during the operation.
The early detection of the nodule offered a positive outlook from the outset. Medical examinations placed it at a very early stage and well localized, which allowed the surgical team to plan a targeted intervention.
Pope Leo XIV arriving to Gemelli Hospital for surgery pic.twitter.com/pKFqK9N7K6
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) October 13, 2026
Latin America Tour Uncertain
The operation took place less than a month before the apostolic journey the Pope plans to make across Latin America from November 6 to 17. The itinerary includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Whether those dates hold will depend on a medical evaluation of his postoperative evolution. Doctors expect the pontiff to remain hospitalized for about a week, and that period will determine how quickly he can resume his public agenda.
The visit carries significant weight for the three countries on the route, which have been preparing for the papal tour since it was announced. Any change to the calendar would ripple through local schedules and large gatherings of the faithful.
For now**, the Vatican has announced no adjustment to the itinerary**. Officials said the feasibility and confirmation of the trip will be assessed according to the favorable evolution of the recovery.
Before the surgery, the announcement about the pontiff’s health had already generated an outpouring of support, and that solidarity continued after the operation was reported as successful.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.