Pope Leo XIV Underwent Lung Cancer Surgery

The leader of the Catholic Church had his lower right lung lobe removed following a lung adenocarcinoma diagnosis.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Cancer

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a stylized anatomical lung, symbolizing the medical procedure for lung cancer treatment. — Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful 90-minute surgical procedure to remove a lung lobe following a lung adenocarcinoma diagnosis in Salt Lake City. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Pope Leo XIV underwent a 90-minute surgical procedure to remove lung cancer on October 13, 2026. Surgeons successfully extracted the lower lobe of the pope's right lung using a minimally invasive method.

Why it matters

The surgery addresses the pope's lung adenocarcinoma, a condition that remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The procedure highlights the surgical intervention options available for patients diagnosed with localized lung cancer.

A successful surgical removal of a lung nodule is critical because while 90% of lung lesions are non-cancerous, adenocarcinoma requires immediate intervention. Surgeons typically evaluate nodules based on patient risk factors, CAT scan features, and growth rates.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV is the current leader of the Catholic Church.

The details

The procedure performed in Salt Lake City utilized small incisions and long instruments to facilitate the removal of the cancerous lobe. This minimally invasive approach is designed to reduce recovery time compared to traditional open surgery.

October 13, 2026: Pope Leo XIV underwent a lung cancer surgery.

The Big Picture

The procedure reflects current medical standard-of-care practices outlined by the National Cancer Institute's lung cancer screening guidelines for identifying and treating localized pulmonary malignancy.

The surgery underscores the importance of screening for lung cancer, especially given that 20% of patients who develop the disease never smoked. Early detection of nodules through regular screenings remains the most effective way to improve survival outcomes for the general public.

The takeaway

Early detection remains the most significant factor in managing lung cancer, as localized cases boast cure rates as high as 90%. Readers should discuss personalized lung health assessments and screening eligibility with their primary healthcare provider.