The Vatican announced the successful completion of Pope Leo XIV's surgery

Pope Leo XIV successfully underwent surgery to remove a tumor in his lung. According to the Vatican Press Office, the procedure was performed at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on October 13, 2026.

The operation, aimed at removing the detected mass, went according to plan and was successful. The surgery was performed by a team of specialists led by Professor Stefano Margaritor. The 71-year-old pontiff has now returned to his hospital room to undergo rehabilitation.

Vatican officials have not yet provided details about the nature of the growth, refraining from commenting on whether it is malignant. Due to the need for recovery—which doctors predict will take about a week—all of the Pontiff’s official audiences have been canceled until October 20. The Vatican is expected to provide additional information on the health of the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the near future.