Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Lung Surgery for Adenocarcinoma

Pope Leo XIV, 71, underwent successful surgery on Tuesday at the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican stated the 90-minute procedure confirmed pre-operative suspicions of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer.

The operation was performed using a video-assisted technique led by thoracic surgeon Stefano Margaritora. According to the Holy See, the intervention concluded without complications and the pontiff returned to his room on the tenth floor after a brief observation period.

“It is very tiny: three millimeters. That is why I did not think it was lung cancer.”

Argentine pulmonologist Ana María Putruele noted the lesion was surprisingly small at three millimeters. She suggested that, absent invasion of lymph nodes or the mediastinum, the Pope likely will not require further specific treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The Vatican had initially described the growth as a "small nodule" earlier in the day. While most pulmonary nodules are benign, a small percentage can indicate early cancer. Risk factors include smoking, air pollution, and genetic susceptibility, though the disease also occurs in non-smokers.