Pope Leo XIV is recovering after lung cancer surgery in Rome as doctors await test results and questions remain over his November South America trip.
Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung, with doctors awaiting further test results to determine whether the disease has spread and what treatment may be needed.
The Vatican said on Wednesday that the 71-year-old pontiff had spent a calm night following the operation, which took place on Tuesday. The surgery was completed successfully, as planned and within the expected timeframe, according to the Vatican. He was then taken back to his room on the hospital’s tenth floor.
The pope underwent a 90-minute procedure, and the Vatican said he woke up normally afterwards. Part of his right lung was removed during the operation. Although the tumour was reportedly detected early and remained localised, doctors are waiting for additional test results before deciding whether further treatment is necessary.
The Vatican has not announced plans for chemotherapy or other cancer therapies. Medical experts say the next steps will depend largely on the type and stage of the cancer, the results of the tests and whether there is evidence that the disease has spread beyond the affected area.
Early detection and a tumour that remains localised can be favourable factors in cancer treatment. However, the pope’s longer-term outlook cannot be determined from the information released so far.
Attention has also turned to whether his recovery will affect a planned visit to South America from 6 to 17 November. The trip is scheduled to include Uruguay, Argentina and Peru and would be the longest overseas journey of his papacy to date.
The Vatican expects the pope’s initial recovery to take about a week. All his audiences have been cancelled until 20 October, allowing him time to rest following the procedure. However, officials have not confirmed whether he will travel as planned next month.
The proposed journey would involve more than 31,000 kilometres of travel, including 12 flights and two helicopter journeys. Such an extensive schedule could place additional demands on someone recovering from major surgery, particularly while doctors are still assessing the condition and determining whether further treatment will be required.
Medical advice on when a patient can fly after lung surgery varies according to the procedure, the individual’s recovery and the risk of complications. The three-week period cited in discussions about the pope’s travel plans would leave a limited recovery window before his scheduled departure. His medical team would need to assess whether he could safely manage the long flights and demanding itinerary.
Pope Leo XIV’s first night in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital was calm. Further information is expected later in the day. https://t.co/5dxih9kI4g
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 14, 2026
Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu of Tokyo, who met the pope on Monday, said Leo had chosen to undergo surgery promptly so that he would not have to change his plans for future overseas trips. Kikuchi said the operation was not an emergency, according to his account of the meeting.
The procedure marks Leo XIV’s first hospitalisation since he became pope on 8 May 2025. His health is likely to remain a focus of attention as the Vatican provides updates on his recovery and doctors assess the results of the tests.
Information about the health of popes has historically been closely controlled by the Vatican. However, the institution became more open about medical matters during the papacy of Pope Francis, who publicly discussed several health problems during his time as head of the Catholic Church.
For now, the immediate priorities are the pope’s recovery from surgery and the medical team’s assessment of the tumour. Those findings will help determine whether he needs additional treatment and whether he can safely resume his public duties and proceed with his planned journey to South America.
