Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, has long been known for an active lifestyle that includes regular tennis matches. This habit of staying fit was part of the image he projected after his election on May 8, 2025. His reputation for excellent health made the news of a medical issue all the more notable.
The lung operation represents the first time Pope Leo XIV has faced a health problem since his election. Until now, his schedule had been filled with pastoral trips, audiences, and the usual round of Vatican engagements without any reported illness.
On the Sunday before the surgery, the pope himself announced that doctors had found a nodule in his lung. He said the discovery came during a routine examination and that the lesion was located in a clear spot.
Pathological examination confirmed the nodule as lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that originates in the glandular cells of the lung.
The nodule was caught at a very early stage, according to the medical team. Pope Leo XIV echoed this, stating that the doctors discovered the nodule at an early stage with a clear location, which allowed them to plan a timely intervention.
The operation was described as successful and was carried out without complications.
The procedure lasted about ninety minutes. This timeframe was noted in multiple sources as the length of the operation from start to finish.
Pathological examination confirmed the nodule as lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that originates in the glandular cells of the lung.
To ensure a thorough removal, surgeons excised the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung. This approach was described as a radical procedure, aiming to eliminate all malignant tissue.
The Vatican reported that the operation "went well" without "complications." After the surgery, Pope Leo XIV awoke normally and was able to speak and move as expected.
Following the operation, the pope was transferred back to his hospital room on the tenth floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he continued to rest under observation.
Medical officials said the pope would need to remain in the hospital for approximately one week. This estimate was given as the standard recovery period for such a procedure.
All of Pope Leo XIV’s public appointments were canceled until 20 October, giving him uninterrupted time to focus on recuperation.
According to source 3, Pope Leo XIV underwent a scheduled lung surgery at Gemelli University Hospital on 13 October 2023. That operation was also described as having gone as planned.
The 2023 procedure was performed by a thoracic surgery team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, who oversaw the operation and coordinated the medical staff involved.
A few days before the 2023 operation, the pope had publicly announced that he would be undergoing the procedure, having shared the news of the nodule’s discovery during a check‑up.
The Holy See Press Office promised to provide further health updates after both the 2023 and 2025 surgeries, saying the operation was completed successfully within the scheduled time and that the Holy Father had returned to his room.