Pope Leo XIV surgery updates: Pope Leo arrives at Gemelli Hospital ahead of the pontiffs surgery to remove a lung nodule, in Rome, Italy, October 13, 2026. (REUTERS)Pope Leo XIV surgery updates: Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer, and underwent successful surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said on Tuesday. The 71-year-old pontiff is expected to remain in hospital for about a week following the operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.News agency Associated Press reported that a Vatican medical bulletin confirmed the diagnosis after tests conducted during surgery. The operation lasted approximately 90 minutes, while Leo remained in the operating room for about three hours. The Vatican said there were no complications.Earlier on Tuesday, the Holy See Press Office had announced that the procedure to remove a small, localised lung nodule had been completed successfully and as planned. VATICAN · HEALTH EXPLAINERPope Leo XIV’s lung surgery explainedWhy the nodule was removed, what the Vatican has confirmed, and what doctors still need to find out.Illustration Lower lobe of the right lung: removedVATICAN CONFIRMEDVatican statementREPORTEDNews reportsEXPLAINERGeneral medical backgroundNOT YET KNOWNStill awaited1Why doctors found and removed the lung nodule Nodule: a small growthVATICAN CONFIRMED“During some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung.”Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, Sunday, Oct 11VATICAN CONFIRMEDHe said he had decided to have it removed “following their advice.”REPORTEDHe told Tokyo Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi the operation was “not urgent”, but chose to have it early so his travel plans would not change.Cardinal Kikuchi, via APEXPLAINERA nodule seen on a scan can be harmless or cancerous. Removing it lets pathologists examine the tissue directly.2What the Vatican medical bulletin confirmedCONFIRMEDVATICAN CONFIRMEDSurgery on Tuesday, Oct 13 at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, by a team led by thoracic surgeon Prof Stefano Margaritora.VATICAN CONFIRMEDThe lower lobe of his right lung was removed.VATICAN CONFIRMEDTests confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, which preoperative tests had suspected.VATICAN CONFIRMED“The surgery was successful, and there were no complications.”REPORTEDAbout three hours in the operating room; the surgery itself took about 90 minutes.APVATICAN CONFIRMEDA hospital stay of about a week; all audiences cancelled until Oct 20.3What is lung adenocarcinoma? EXPLAINERA form of non-small cell lung cancer that begins in glandular cells, which make substances such as mucus.EXPLAINERIt is the most common type of lung cancer: more than 30 per cent of all lung cancers, and about half of non-small cell cases.City of Hope Cancer Treatment Centers of AmericaEXPLAINERIt usually starts in the outer parts of the lung, often around the alveoli, the tiny air sacs.4Why lymph-node tests matter Lymph nodes: checked for spreadEXPLAINERIn lung cancer surgery, surgeons usually also remove the lymph nodes that drain the affected lobe.Dr Lorenzo Spaggiari, European Institute of Oncology, not involved in the Pope’s careEXPLAINERTesting them shows whether the cancer has spread beyond the lung. That decides the stage: stage 1 means no spread to lymph nodes.REPORTED“If all those lymph nodes turn out to be negative, so stage one, then the outlook is very good.”Dr Spaggiari, via APNOT YET KNOWNThe Vatican has not yet reported any lymph-node results.5What doctors will assess before deciding on further treatment 1The final pathology report on the removed lobe; it can take a few days, says Dr Stephen Liu of Georgetown’s Lombardi cancer centre.2The lymph-node findings and the stage they point to. If the nodes are clear, Dr Spaggiari says no other treatment would be needed.3His recovery from surgery. Patients are usually advised not to fly for three weeks after the operation, the European Institute of Oncology says.EXPLAINERAfter surgery, some lung cancer patients receive chemotherapy or radiation to lower the risk of the cancer returning.NOT YET KNOWNWhether he will need further treatment; the Vatican has not announced a plan.NOT YET KNOWNWhether his Nov 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru goes ahead; it depends on his recovery.Sources: Holy See Press Office via Vatican News; AP; EWTN News; NBC Chicago; City of Hope Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Images: illustrations.Express InfoGenIECreated by Aniruddha DharReuters said the surgery was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli Hospital’s chief thoracic surgeon. The Pope had announced on Sunday that doctors discovered the nodule during a recent medical check-up.What is lung adenocarcinoma?xLung adenocarcinoma is a form of lung cancer that develops in cells that produce substances such as mucus. The diagnosis was confirmed after tests on the tissue removed during the operation, AP reported, citing the Vatican medical bulletin.The Vatican said tests on the removed lymph nodes would help determine whether Leo needs additional treatment. The results will be important in establishing the extent of the disease and the next steps in his care.Before the diagnosis was confirmed, Reuters quoted Dr Federico Venuto, chief of thoracic surgery at Rome’s Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, as saying that procedures to remove lung nodules are generally minimally invasive and can sometimes involve a thin camera tube called a thoracoscope. Venuto was not identified as part of the Pope’s medical team.The Vatican has not disclosed a complete treatment plan or provided a detailed long-term prognosis.Story continues below this adPope Leo’s recovery and November South America tripThe Vatican expects Leo to remain in hospital for about a week. His public engagements have been cancelled through October 20. The Pope is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17 on an 11-day tour that would be the longest overseas trip of his papacy so far.Reuters reported before the operation that Leo had indicated he wanted to proceed with his planned travel. However, the Vatican has not announced whether the cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment will affect the itinerary.His recovery and any further medical recommendations will determine whether the visit can go ahead as scheduled.Pope Leo’s earlier hospitalisation for typhoid feverLeo, born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, served for decades as a missionary priest and bishop in Peru before becoming Pope in May 2025.Story continues below this adReuters reported that he was hospitalised in 1985 after contracting typhoid fever while serving in Chulucanas, Peru. In the 2025 book Pope Leo XIV: The Biography, he recalled the severe pain he experienced during the illness and how recovering from it shaped his decision to continue his work in the country.(With inputs from agencies)The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. 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