Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer after right lung lobe removed, November South America trip left uncertain

The Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung and that subsequent tissue examination confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

The operation, which the Vatican said took place on October 13, followed discovery of a lung nodule during a routine checkup, and Vatican doctors described the pope’s postoperative recovery as progressing normally. The Holy See has suspended all the pope’s audiences through October 20 while it monitors his recovery and carries out further medical assessments.

The Vatican told reporters that medical follow-up will determine when he can resume public activities, and it emphasised that the suspension of audiences is temporary pending those assessments. The Vatican also said that the pope’s scheduled South American trip remains on the travel calendar.

The itinerary set for November 6–17 lists visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru; Vatican officials have not announced any changes to those plans, but they described the programme’s length and intensity — 12 days, numerous flights and more than 40 meetings and speeches — as a factor that introduces uncertainty given the recent diagnosis.

At 71, Pope Leo XIV underwent the operation after a nodule was detected during routine screening. Vatican statements quoted by Buenos Aires Herald and reflected in other headlines note that doctors are watching his recovery closely and that, for now, the November pilgrimage is still being planned rather than cancelled.

The Vatican’s public communication framed the matter as a medical issue requiring ongoing evaluation rather than a definitive decision about travel. Officials cited by the Vatican told reporters that the pope is resting in hospital following the operation and that his immediate recovery has been satisfactory.

The Holy See did not provide further clinical detail in its public statement beyond confirming the surgical removal of the right lower lobe and the pathology finding of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

The coming days and weeks will focus on post-operative assessments and decisions about resuming public duties and whether the planned November travel will proceed as scheduled; until those assessments conclude, the Vatican has limited the pope’s official engagements.

The Vatican’s public statements to date centralise medical monitoring and offer no timetable for a return to the full schedule of audiences or for any revision to the South America itinerary.