Pope Leo XIV, the 71-year-old pontiff, was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma following a surgical procedure on October 13. Surgeons at Rome's Gemelli Hospital removed the lower lobe of his right lung to treat a localized nodule discovered during recent medical screenings.
The removal of the right lung's lower lobe
The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV underwent thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where surgeons successfully removed the lower lobe of his right lung.. According to the Holy See Press Office, the procedure itself lasted approximately 90 minutes,though the pontiff spent three hours in the operating room. Following the surgery, Pope Leo XIV recovered on the hospital's 10th floor after a brief observation period.
This medical intervention marks the first time Pope Leo XIV has been hospitalized since ascending to the papacy in May 2025. The pontiff had previously informed the public during his weekly blessing in St. Peter's Square on October 11 that doctors had identified a well-localized, early-stage nodule, necessitating the operation.
Why adenocarcinoma affects non-smokers like Leo XIV
The diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma is particularly notable because Pope Leo XIV does not smoke and has no known history of smoking.. As reported by the Lung Cancer Foundation of America, adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for roughly 40% of all cases in the United States, and it is the most prevalent form found in non-smokers.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that smoking causes 80% of lung cancer deaths, the case of Pope Leo XIV highlights a significant minority of patients who develop the disease without tobacco use. Dr. Lary Robinson of the Moffitt Cancer Center explains that while smoking is the primary driver,lung cancer occurs in an estimated 10% of male and 25% of female non-smokers.
The EGFR T790M mutation and lung cancer risk
Scientific research suggests that gentic factors can play a decisive role in cases like that of Pope Leo XIV. Findings published in the journal Science indicate that a rare genetic mutation known as EGFR T790M can increase the risk of lung cancer by 25 times compared to those without the mutation. For individuals who have never smoked, carriers of this specific mutation face odds of developing lung cancer that are approximately 62 times higher than non-smoking non-carriers.
This genetic angle provides a critical lens for understanding how a non-smoker can develop a malignancy. Dr. Lary Robinson noted that non-smokers often present with more advanced stages of the disease—over half arriving at stage 4—making the early detection of the nodule in Pope Leo XIV's lung a potentially life-saving occurrence.
Waiting for lymph node results and the final stage
The ultimate prognosis for Pope Leo XIV remains uncertain as medical teams await pathology reports. According to the AP, doctors are specifically waiting for lymph-node test results to determine if the cancer has spread. If the pathology confirms the cancer is Stage 1, Dr. Lary Robinson suggests there is a high chance of a cure—approximately 90%—depending on the size of the tumor.
The Vatican has not yet released a detailed long-term treatment plan or confirmed whether chemotherapy will be necessary. In the immediate term, all papal audiences have been canceled through Tuesday, October 20, while Pope Leo XIV spends approximately one week recovering at Gemelli Hospital.
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