WORLD · 23 Oct 2026 · 03:55 GMT ·1 min read

Pope Leo XIV Cleared of Further Cancer Treatment After Successful Lung Surgery

Pope Leo XIV requires no further cancer treatment after his October 13, 2026, lung surgery at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

NEUTRALITY 39 · LEANING· 6 sources

DW English

Pope Leo XIV requires no further cancer treatment after his October 13, 2026, lung surgery at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. Final tests confirmed the tumor was a localized adenocarcinoma. The 71-year-old pontiff remains on track for his November 6-17, 2026, South America trip. He was asymptomatic before the discovery of the nodule. His surgeon confirmed no clinical reason to cancel the visit. The Pope resumed diplomatic duties. He called Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Context

Pope Leo XIV announced his diagnosis during a Sunday blessing on October 11, 2026. On October 13, 2026, surgeons at Gemelli Hospital in Rome performed a 90-minute procedure to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.

Supportive perspectives

Final histopathology and molecular testing confirmed the tumor was a localized pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The Pope requires no further cancer treatment following these findings.
The Pope's surgeon stated that no clinical reason exists to cancel the upcoming trip to South America. The visit remains scheduled for November 6 through November 17, 2026.
Pope Leo XIV resumed diplomatic engagement during his recovery. He spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 16, 2026. He spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 19, 2026.
Doctors discovered the lung nodule during routine abdominal examinations. This incidental finding allowed them to remove the growth before the Pope experienced symptoms.

Critical perspectives

Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, stated that the lack of further treatment suggests the Pope had stage one lung cancer. The Vatican has not officially confirmed this staging.