Matteo Negri is a reporter for Reuters.
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Pope Leo Diagnosed With Cancer, Has Lobe of Lung Removed
, 10-13-2026
Pope Leo waves from a car window as he leaves the Vatican, ahead of his hospitalization for surgery to remove a lung nodule, in Rome, Italy, October 13, 2026. REUTERS/Remo Casilli
Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with a common form of lung cancer after doctors removed a lower lobe of his right lung in surgery on Tuesday, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin.
The 71-year-old pontiff has lung adenocarcinoma, with tissue tests conducted during the operation confirming what doctors had suspected from preparatory examinations, the bulletin said.
The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove a growth on his lung that doctors found in a recent health checkup.