Pope Leo Undergoes Successful Lung Surgery, Cancer Detected
Updated 2 weeks ago16 new reports, including AP (video), The Guardian, NBC News (video) and 9 more.
The short version
Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful lung surgery on 13 October that removed a cancerous nodule. The operation, performed at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, marked the first time the pontiff was hospitalized since taking office.
Pope Leo XIV cancelled all public events until 20 October ahead of surgery.2 He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on 13 October for removal of a lung nodule.3,4,5 The nodule was described as a small, early‑stage growth found during a routine checkup.1,3,10
Edit history(4 earlier versions)
- v4 → v5Replaced 2 weeks ago
16 new reports, including AP (video), The Guardian, NBC News (video) and 9 more.
Headline: Pope Leo Undergoes Successful Lung Surgery, Cancer Detected
Added Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful lung surgery on 13 October that removed a cancerous nodule.
Added The operation, performed at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, marked the first time the pontiff was hospitalized since taking office.
Removed Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful lung surgery on Oct.
Removed 13, 2026, at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
- v3 → v4Replaced 2 weeks ago
21 new reports, including The Independent, AP (video), The New York Times and 11 more.
Headline: Pope Leo's lung surgery successful, Vatican says cancer confirmed
Added Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful lung surgery on Oct.
Added 13, 2026, at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
Removed Pope Leo had a small lung nodule removed in Rome on October 13, 2026, and post‑operative tests confirmed it was cancerous.
Removed The Vatican said the surgery was successful and the Pope will recover in hospital for about a week.
- v2 → v3Replaced 3 weeks ago
6 new reports, including NBC News (video), CBS News (video), Al Jazeera (video) and 3 more.
Headline: Pope Leo Undergoes Lung Surgery; Vatican Confirms Cancer Diagnosis
Added Pope Leo had a small lung nodule removed in Rome on October 13, 2026, and post‑operative tests confirmed it was cancerous.
Added The Vatican said the surgery was successful and the Pope will recover in hospital for about a week.
Removed Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery to remove a lung nodule that was later confirmed as cancer.
Removed The operation was successful and the pope will recover in hospital for about a week.
- v1 → v2Replaced 3 weeks ago
10 new reports, including The Straits Times, ABC News (AU), ABC News and 6 more.
Headline: Pope Leo’s lung surgery successful, Vatican says
Added Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery to remove a lung nodule that was later confirmed as cancer.
Added The operation was successful and the pope will recover in hospital for about a week.
Removed Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful lung surgery on Oct.
Removed 13, 2026, and will remain hospitalized for about a week.
This story is updated in place as more outlets report it, so it keeps one address. Each earlier version is kept here rather than overwritten.
This account was written from the 15 reports listed below, filed by 12 independent outlets, and checked against them line by line. It is not a copy of any one of them. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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