Pope Leo XIV Lung Cancer: Surgery, Recovery and Hospital Call to Putin
The Vatican has confirmed a Pope Leo XIV lung cancer diagnosis after the 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to remove part of his right lung. Doctors described the operation as successful and without complications, and the Pope is expected to be discharged within days after what physicians called a steady improvement in his condition.
The Pope Leo XIV lung cancer news has drawn global attention, not only for the health of the Catholic Church’s leader but for his remarkable activity from the hospital bed — including a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin urging a humanitarian ceasefire, and celebrating Mass in a chapel set up on the hospital’s tenth floor.
Pope Leo XIV Lung Cancer: The Diagnosis and Surgery
The pontiff announced the discovery of a small, localised nodule during his weekly Sunday noon prayer in St Peter’s Square. He entered Gemelli Hospital through the main entrance on Tuesday, waving to supporters gathered to greet him, and underwent a 90-minute procedure to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
Subsequent examination confirmed the Pope Leo XIV lung cancer diagnosis as adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. His personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, and surgeon Professor Stefano Margaritora confirmed that blood tests and a chest X-ray showed steady improvement in his overall condition and good recovery of the operated lung.
The Pope, the first American-born pontiff, was elected during the conclave in May 2025. He is due to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru next month — a trip to countries he knows well, having first arrived in Peru as a missionary in the 1980s before serving as a bishop and acquiring Peruvian citizenship. The Vatican has not said whether the travel plans will change.
First Public Appearance: Mass From the Hospital Chapel
On Friday, the Vatican published the first photographs of the Pope since the operation, showing the Chicago-born pontiff wearing a green robe while standing behind a makeshift altar on the tenth floor of the hospital. He celebrated Mass with medical and nursing staff, distributed Communion, and thanked the workers for their service.
“In his homily, the Pope thanked all the staff — doctors, nurses, and orderlies — for the work they do every day caring for patients in their frailty, and especially for what they have done and continue to do for him,” said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. The images reassured Catholics worldwide who had been anxiously awaiting news of his recovery.
According to the Vatican, the Pope is scheduled to leave the hospital on Saturday afternoon following a four-day recovery, capping a remarkable week since the Pope Leo XIV lung cancer diagnosis was confirmed. He is expected to recite the traditional Sunday Angelus blessing from the window of the papal apartment overlooking St Peter’s Square — his first public appearance since entering the hospital.
Hospital Call to Putin Over Humanitarian Crisis
While recovering, the Pope telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin — their second conversation after speaking in June 2025 — to urge a ceasefire in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Oleshky, where access to food and water has reportedly been cut off for thousands of residents. The city is said to have no electricity, gas or running water, with its hospital barely functional.
“The Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population,” a Vatican statement read. The statement added that the Pope reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peace.
The Kremlin responded without mentioning a ceasefire, saying: “The Vatican’s intention to help create the conditions necessary to ensure the safety of the town’s population and to organise vital supplies has been supported. It has been agreed to cooperate on this matter.” Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said he hoped the fact that Putin accepted the call was a sign the Pope’s request would be carried out. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, made a similar plea regarding what he described as a desperate situation.
What the Diagnosis Means for the Papacy
The Pope Leo XIV lung cancer diagnosis inevitably raises questions about the future of his papacy, though Vatican officials have emphasised the localised nature of the nodule and the success of the surgery. The Pope Leo XIV lung cancer case involves adenocarcinoma caught at an early, localised stage, which is typically treated with surgical removal, sometimes followed by monitoring rather than aggressive further therapy.
US President Donald Trump was among the world leaders wishing the Pope a speedy recovery after the Pope Leo XIV lung cancer announcement. Catholics across the globe have organised prayer vigils, and the pontiff’s visible recovery — celebrating Mass just days after major surgery — has been presented by the Vatican as a sign of his resilience.
For now, the Vatican’s messaging on the Pope Leo XIV lung cancer episode is one of continuity: a recovering Pope, discharged on schedule, returning to the Angelus window on Sunday, and carrying on with his diplomatic and pastoral duties. How the illness shapes the longer arc of his pontificate will become clearer in the weeks ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of lung cancer does Pope Leo XIV have?
Doctors diagnosed adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, after a small localised nodule was found in his right lung and the lower lobe was surgically removed.
How is Pope Leo XIV recovering from surgery?
His doctors report steady improvement, with blood tests and chest X-rays confirming good recovery. He celebrated Mass in the hospital chapel days after the operation and is expected to be discharged on Saturday.
Why did the Pope call Putin from the hospital?
He urged the Russian president to agree to a humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-controlled Ukrainian city where residents reportedly lack food, water, electricity and medical care. The Kremlin agreed to cooperate on aid without mentioning a ceasefire.
Will the Pope’s travel plans change?
The Vatican has not announced changes to his planned November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. His Sunday Angelus blessing is expected to proceed as scheduled after his discharge.
