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Vatican Surgery of Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung cancer surgery

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung on Oct. 13. Surgeons used a video-assisted technique to remove the lower lobe of the lung during a 90-minute procedure. While the pope remained in the operating room for approximately three hours, doctors reported the surgery was successful and without complications.

An intraoperative examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in specialized glandular cells. The Vatican reported on Oct. 14 that the pope's recovery is on track, noting he has begun respiratory therapy, has walked around his hospital room, and is eating. Medical staff also conducted blood tests and a chest X-ray to monitor his progress.

The pope previously informed the faithful during the Angelus on Oct. 11 that a medical examination had identified a well-contained nodule at an early stage. Following the surgery, Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis encouraged continued prayers for the pope and for those facing difficult medical diagnoses.

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Earlier version, Friday 16 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung cancer surgery at Gemelli hospital

Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung surgery at Rome hospital

Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery for lung cancer

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 1:39 PM ACI Prensa Español Al Papa León XIV le diagnosticaron cáncer de pulmón, informa el Vaticano
  2. Oct 14, 12:18 AM La Croix Français Santé du pape : qu’est-ce que l’adénocarcinome pulmonaire, le cancer dont souffre Léon XIV ?
  3. Oct 13, 1:19 PM Agência Ecclesia Português Leão XIV: Médicos confirmam diagnóstico de cancro do pulmão
  4. Oct 13, 2:05 PM Catholic New York Español Actualización: El papa León XIV le han diagnosticado cáncer de pulmón
  5. Oct 14, 5:55 AM America What to know about Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis
  6. Oct 14, 8:20 AM Rome Reports Pope Leo XIV’s Lung Cancer: Will He Need Chemotherapy?
  7. Oct 14, 5:15 PM Catholic News Agency Catholic lung cancer specialists weigh in on Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis
  8. Oct 14, 8:00 AM Catholic New York What’s a Lung Nodule? Medical Experts Explain Pope Leo’s Surgery
  9. Oct 14, 1:30 AM USCCB News Pope's recovery on track after lung cancer surgery, clergy praise his resolve
  10. Oct 14, 8:40 PM DOMRADIO.DE Deutsch Nicht nur Reiseprojekte betroffen / Wie die Krebserkrankung von Papst Leo XIV. Perspektiven verändert
  11. Oct 14, 5:15 PM Catholic World Report Catholic lung cancer specialists weigh in on Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis
  12. Oct 14, 8:04 PM National Catholic Register Catholic Lung Cancer Specialists Weigh in On Pope Leo XIV’s Diagnosis
  13. Oct 14, 9:46 AM Aleteia Français Une prière, une lettre, une messe… Six façons de soutenir le Pape
  14. Oct 15, 12:00 AM Diocese of Treviso Italiano Papa Leone e la fragilità condivisa
  15. Oct 15, 10:40 AM Aleteia Español Una oración, una carta, una misa… Seis formas de apoyar al Papa
  16. Oct 14, 7:04 AM Diocese of Grand Rapids Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer; latest updates available from Vatican News
  17. Oct 14, 9:40 AM The Catholic Spirit Archbishop Hebda encourages prayers for Pope Leo, Bishop Kenney, all ‘with difficult diagnoses’
  18. Oct 14, 8:58 AM The Monitor Español ÚLTIMA HORA: La cirugía del Papa León XIV revela que tiene cáncer de pulmón
  19. Oct 14, 2:45 PM ACI Prensa Español Católicos de EE.UU. redoblan sus oraciones por la salud del Papa León XIV

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 22, 2:31 PM PT · 57 sources Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus
  2. Oct 22, 2:30 PM PT · 46 sources Pope Leo XIV's doctors confirm no further treatment is necessary
  3. Oct 22, 2:30 PM PT · 33 sources Pope Leo XIV needs no further treatment after lung cancer surgery
  4. Oct 22, 1:21 PM PT Chicago artist creates Marian icon for Pope Leo XIV, who will keep the image in his bedroom
  5. Oct 22, 1:17 PM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV is cancer-free
  6. Oct 22, 1:00 PM PT · 11 sources Pope Leo XIV urges Catholic schools to help young people
  7. Oct 22, 12:43 PM PT · 25 sources Pope Leo XIV meets American Jewish Committee
  8. Oct 22, 12:12 PM PT · 11 sources Pope Leo XIV invites young people to Seoul for WYD 2027
  9. Oct 22, 12:11 PM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Argentina
  10. Oct 22, 11:21 AM PT · 25 sources Pope Leo XIV invites youth to Seoul for World Youth Day 2027
  11. Oct 22, 10:39 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold private audience with Villanova, Notre Dame teams
  12. Oct 22, 10:13 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV invites 2027 World Youth Day participants
  13. Oct 22, 9:05 AM PT Pope Leo XIV and the Pressure to Be Perfect: “Many Give Up Before Even Trying”
  14. Oct 22, 8:30 AM PT A Global Symphony of Prayer: 16 Readers Share Ways They Prayed for Pope Leo XIV
  15. Oct 22, 8:20 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV invites young people to Seoul for WYD 2027
  16. Oct 22, 8:07 AM PT · 33 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 24 new members to International Theological Commission
  17. Oct 22, 8:01 AM PT · 7 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Leandro Machado Silvestre as bishop of Guajará-Mirim
  18. Oct 22, 8:01 AM PT · 21 sources Pope Leo XIV leads General Audience on October 21, 2026, emphasizing marriage and family
  19. Oct 22, 8:01 AM PT · 23 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Holiness in History conference
  20. Oct 22, 7:28 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas presented to Dutch and Flemish bishops
  21. Oct 22, 6:18 AM PT · 61 sources Pope Leo XIV speaks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
  22. Oct 22, 5:20 AM PT · 9 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Synod on Synodality
  23. Oct 22, 4:30 AM PT · 3 sources COMECE bishops send message of prayer and support to Pope Leo XIV
  24. Oct 22, 4:01 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants of Congress on Pastoral Care in Schools and Universities
  25. Oct 22, 3:55 AM PT · 25 sources Pope Leo XIV emphasizes protecting marriage at general audience

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