Pope Leo was diagnosed with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma in October 2026. The diagnosis came after a routine checkup revealed a small pulmonary nodule.
The Vatican announced earlier this month that Leo XIV would undergo a procedure to remove a lung nodule. Now, 10 days after his surgery, the Pontiff’s results have been released.
Pope Leo’s Cancer
Pope Leo’s lung cancer surgery was a success, the Vatican announced on Wednesday, October 21, adding that no further treatment is necessary.
“The final histological reports and molecular biology analyses of the tissue removed during the Holy Father’s surgery have been completed today,” Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal physician, and Dr. Stefano Margaritora, a thoracic surgery professor who led the surgical team, said, per CNN. “The results have confirmed that the condition was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required.”
The Pope announced his diagnosis on October 11. Following his procedure and release from the hospital on October 17, Pope Leo made his first public appearance on Sunday, October 18.
“This experience has given me a profound sense of closeness to all those who are going through illness or a state of infirmity,” he told the crowd while leading the Sunday Angelus from the balcony of the Apostolic Palace.
What Is Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma?
According to Cancer Center, adenocarcinoma is a form of cancer found in glandular or secretory cell. Lung cancer is the most common type of adenocarcinoma and is often found in non-smoking patients.
This form of lung cancer accounts for more than 30 percent of all lung cancers and is the most common form in the United States.
Pope Leo Cancer Update: Lung Cancer Surgery Results Revealed