Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery to remove an entire lobe of his right lung, the Vatican has confirmed, revealing a serious health challenge for the 71-year-old pontiff. The operation, performed at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday, 13 October, lasted approximately 90 minutes and confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of cancer that can develop even in people who have never smoked.
Doctors successfully removed the affected lung tissue without complications, but questions remain about whether the cancer has spread and whether the Pope will require additional treatment.
