Pope Leo XIV spent a calm night at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after undergoing surgery on Tuesday to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. The Vatican confirmed that the 90-minute operation was completed successfully and that the 71-year-old pontiff woke up normally afterwards.
The pope is now recovering in a room on the hospital's tenth floor, in a ward adjacent to the papal apartment where his predecessor, Pope Francis, was treated a year and a half ago. The Vatican's statement described the surgery as having been "successfully completed, as planned and within the expected timeframe."
Part of the pope's lung was removed during the procedure. Doctors are now awaiting test results to determine whether the cancer has spread. The Vatican said the tumour was detected early and was localised, which are both positive indicators for the prognosis. However, experts caution that much will depend on the cancer's stage and whether any malignant cells have migrated.
Recovery and the South America trip
The surgery has cast doubt on whether Pope Leo XIV will be able to undertake his planned 6–17 November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The Vatican has cancelled all papal audiences until 20 October, and the pope's recovery is expected to take about a week.
Oncologists typically advise patients to avoid flying for at least three weeks after such surgery, which would leave the pope just enough time to recover before the trip. The visit, which would be the longest of his papacy so far, involves more than 31,000 kilometres of travel across 12 flights and two helicopter journeys.
Tokyo Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu, who met the pope on Monday, sought to reassure the faithful: "He has decided to undergo surgery soon in order to not change his plans for future overseas trips, so there is no need to worry, as it is not an emergency."
This is Pope Leo XIV's first hospitalisation since his election on 8 May 2025. The Vatican has historically been secretive about papal health, but under Pope Francis it adopted a more transparent approach, with the late pontiff openly discussing his medical issues. This new openness has continued under Leo XIV, with the Vatican providing regular updates on his condition.
As the pope recuperates, the Catholic Church and observers across Europe and beyond will be watching closely. The coming days will bring crucial test results that could shape the next phase of his treatment and his ability to fulfil his demanding travel schedule.
