Pope Leo XIV lung cancer update: Doctors confirmed that the disease was localised after surgery and that no further treatment is necessary.2 min readNew DelhiOct 22, 2026 07:17 PM IST First published on: Oct 22, 2026 at 07:10 PM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookPope Leo XIV appears at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional noon blessing after praying the Angelus, a day after he returned from the hospital, where he had lung cancer removed on Tuesday. (AP Photo)AI Narration Listen 00:000.5x0.75x1x1.25x1.5x2xThank you for your feedback.Your feedback has been reported succesfully.Pope Leo XIV does not require any further treatment for the lung cancer following surgery, as doctors confirmed that the disease had not spread, the Vatican announced in a statement. It added that the tissue removed as part of the operation confirmed that Pope had a lung adenocarcinoma, which was earlier diagnosed and that the disease was localised.“A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary,” Pope’s lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said on Wednesday.Pope discharged after 90-minute surgeryThe 71-year-old pontiff was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital over the weekend after the lower lobe of his right lung was surgically removed on October 13, in a procedure that continued for 90 minutes. Pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, which is the most common form of lung cancer, BBC reported. The development comes as Pope held his weekly general audience on Wednesday at St Peter’s Square for the first time since leaving hospital. VATICAN · HEALTHInside Pope Leo XIV’s surgery: what doctors removedSurgeons took out the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung on October 13. Tests on the tissue confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, and his doctors now say no further treatment is necessary. UPPER LOBEMIDDLE LOBELOWER LOBERIGHT LUNGLEFT LUNGPOST-SURGERY ASSESSMENTAdenocarcinoma, localized. No further treatment necessary.1A small nodule is found in the lung during routine checks.2Zooming in on the right lung, which has three lobes.3The lower lobe, which contains the nodule, is outlined.4Surgeons remove the lower lobe; the rest of the lung stays.5The tissue is examined: adenocarcinoma, localized. Simplified illustration, front view; not to scale. The size and exact position of the nodule have not been disclosed, so its placement here is illustrative.KEY TAKEAWAYThe cancer was removed with the lobe, and doctors say no further treatment is neededTHE DIAGNOSISLung adenocarcinoma, a cancer that develops in glandular cells. Final tissue exams found it was localized.THE ASSESSMENTAn oncological evaluation concluded that no further treatment is necessary.NOT DISCLOSEDThe tumour’s size and stage, and lymph node findings, have not been made public.“No further treatment is necessary.”DR LUIGI CARBONE AND PROF STEFANO MARGARITORA, OCT 21Holy See Press Office statement, via Vatican News; Catholic News Service, via USCCBFrom check-up to all-clearOCT 11At the Angelus, the Pope announces surgery to remove a “small, localized nodule” found during routine medical checks.OCT 13Admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital. Thoracic surgeon Prof Stefano Margaritora removes the lower lobe of the right lung.OCT 14The day after surgery, he begins respiratory therapy, walks in his room and resumes eating.OCT 17Discharged, several days earlier than projected. He leads the Angelus the next day.OCT 21His doctors say tissue tests confirmed localized adenocarcinoma and that no further treatment is necessary.NOV 6Scheduled to leave for an 11-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru; his surgeon sees “no clinical reasons” it should not go ahead.Vatican News; Catholic News Service, via USCCBWhat a lobectomy leaves behind3lobes in the right lung: upper, middle and lower2lobes in the left lung, which shares space with the heartRemoving one lobe leaves the other four in place. A lobectomy, taking out one whole lobe, is a common operation for lung tumours.General anatomy; procedure details as stated by the VaticanSources: Holy See Press Office, via Vatican News; Catholic News Service, via USCCB. Illustration: Express InfoGenIE, simplified for explanation.Express InfoGenIECreated by Aniruddha DharPope had revealed lung nodule was detected earlyPope Leo had earlier announced in his weekly Sunday prayers that he’ll be undergoing surgery and informed those who were present at St Peter’s Square at the time that doctors have found a nodule on his lung. Pope said the nodule was caught “at an early stage”.According to Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the nodule on Pope’s lung was found by chance during a routine abdominal check-up, and that the pontiff wasn’t experiencing any symptoms, Al Jazeera reported, citing Vatican News on Saturday.Story continues below this adPope held Mass in hospital, spoke to PutinThe images shared by the Vatican after the surgery last week showed Pope celebrating Mass from the hospital. 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