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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

Vatican Surgery of Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung surgery

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Rome's Gemelli Hospital following surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung on October 13, 2026. The Holy See Press Office reported that a tissue examination during the procedure confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

The 90-minute operation was completed successfully without complications. Following the surgery, the 71-year-old pope woke up normally and returned to his room on the 10th floor. Vatican medical updates indicate his recovery is progressing as expected, noting that he has begun respiratory therapy, can walk around his room, and is able to eat.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed spiritual solidarity with the pope. Bishop Pierre Goudreault, president of the conference, sent a letter to the Holy Father assuring him of the prayers of the Church in Canada and requesting his apostolic blessing. Similarly, Bishop Michael Brehl of the Diocese of Pembroke urged the faithful to include the pope in their personal prayers and Eucharistic intentions.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

7 sources23 reports8 languages

Read it in BE · English · Français · Italiano · Español · Polski · Português · Deutsch

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Earlier version, Monday 19 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery for lung cancer

Earlier version, Friday 16 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery to remove lung tumor

Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung cancer surgery

Earlier version, Thursday 15 October

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 13, 3:02 PM Vatican News BE Урачы паведамілі падрабязнасці аперацыі Пантыфіка
  2. Oct 14, 12:20 AM Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev BE Урачы паведамілі падрабязнасці аперацыі Пантыфіка
  3. Oct 14, 12:00 AM Diocese of Grodno BE Урачы паведамілі падрабязнасці аперацыі Пантыфіка
  4. Oct 14, 11:07 AM The Catholic Register Canada’s Catholics offer Pope Leo prayers, support after lung cancer diagnosis
  5. Oct 14, 11:12 AM Diocese of Hamilton Prayers for Pope Leo XIV
  6. Oct 15, 5:46 AM ZENIT News Agency Français Léon XIV : une convalescence encourageante
  7. Oct 15, 6:52 AM Diocese of Saint Augustine Diocese of St. Augustine joins worldwide prayers for Pope Leo XIV
  8. Oct 15, 9:53 AM Diocese of Pembroke Prayers for Pope Leo XIV – Oct. 14, 2026
  9. Oct 14, 7:27 AM L'Osservatore Romano Italiano La Chiesa si stringe attorno a Leone XIV - Vicinanza e affetto per il Papa da Roma al mondo una comunità in preghiera
  10. Oct 15, 2:08 AM RomaSette Italiano La Chiesa di Roma accanto al Papa nella preghiera
  11. Oct 15, 11:59 AM Crisis Point When the Pope Is Sick: Who Runs the Church?
  12. Oct 15, 7:12 AM Diocese of Antigonish Prayers for Pope Leo XIV
  13. Oct 15, 10:30 PM Vatican News Español La semana del Papa León XIV
  14. Oct 16, 4:10 PM Aleteia Polski Zaskakująca zbieżność daty operacji papieża Leona XIV
  15. Oct 16, 8:34 AM Diocese of Grouard–McLennan Canadian Bishops Pray for Pope Leo XIV Following Surgery
  16. Oct 17, 1:25 PM Aleteia The surgeon who operated on Leo XIV: “An ideal patient”
  17. Oct 19, 12:58 AM Aleteia Português O cirurgião que operou Leão XIV: “Um paciente ideal”
  18. Oct 19, 9:03 AM Aleteia Français Léon XIV, « un patient idéal » selon son chirurgien
  19. Oct 13, 3:39 PM The Catholic Sun Bishop Dolan’s remarks on Pope Leo XIV’s cancer diagnosis
  20. Oct 14, 5:00 AM Die Tagespost Deutsch Die Krebsdiagnose des Papstes wirft Fragen auf
  21. Oct 14, 10:55 AM La Croix Français Santé du pape : un début de pontificat percuté par le diagnostic d’un cancer du poumon
  22. Oct 15, 12:00 AM Exaudi Español El Papa, el (su) cáncer y las preguntas que todos preferimos aplazar
  23. Oct 15, 12:40 AM Crux Pope Leo XIV’s cancer diagnosis raises questions about the future and the very recent past

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 22, 1:46 PM PT · 57 sources Pope Leo XIV leads the Angelus
  2. Oct 22, 1:31 PM PT · 46 sources Pope Leo XIV's doctors confirm no further treatment is necessary
  3. Oct 22, 1:31 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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