Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung surgery, recovers after removal of cancerous nodule

The Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV underwent a three-hour operation on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to remove a nodule from the lower lobe of his right lung, which was identified as adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer. The pope awoke normally after the procedure and his recovery is projected to take about a week.

"The procedure was completed successfully, within the expected timeframe and as planned," the Vatican statement said.

Pre-operative tests had suggested the presence of cancer, and the diagnosis was confirmed during surgery. Oncologists indicated that the early detection gives the pontiff a favorable prognosis, though additional tests are being conducted to assess whether the disease has spread.

The pope, 71, informed thousands of worshippers of the health issue during a Sunday prayer service, a level of openness not typical of previous pontiffs. All of his public engagements have been cancelled through October 20, but a planned trip to South America in November remains under consideration.