Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, undergoes partial right lung removal
Pope Leo underwent surgery to remove the lower portion of his right lung after a lung cancer diagnosis, the Vatican announced on October 13, 2026. The procedure involves the 98-year-old pontiff, who leads 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. The Vatican has not disclosed additional details about his prognosis or timeline for resuming public duties.
✓ Verified
- ✓Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer and had the lower portion of his right lung removed. (Source: Vatican official announcement via ABC World News Tonight, 100+ US MSM articles found)
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Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, and underwent surgery to remove the lower section of his right lung. According to the Associated Press, lung cancer is highly treatable when detected early, as appears to be the case with the pope's tumor.
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