Pope Leo is diagnosed with lung cancer after surgery to remove part of his right lung. The Vatican says the operation went well
The Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer. Surgeons removed part of his right lung, AP, Politico and the Evening Standard reported; Mint and ThisDay specified the lower lobe. The Vatican said the operation was 'successfully completed', the Straits Times reported. The pope, 71, had made the lung nodule public on Sunday, Handelsblatt noted. Mint reported that further tests will decide the next steps in treatment. ThisDay said the Vatican cancelled his engagements, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside over the Mass in St Peter's Square on Wednesday.
The pope leads more than a billion Catholics. His health shapes the Church's calendar and its direction, and a serious illness invites questions about how long he can carry on.
If you are a Catholic or have planned a trip to Rome, expect changes to public events. The reports we saw gave no details of his prognosis.
Do not read more into the diagnosis than the Vatican has said. The next facts to look for are the type and stage of the cancer, the treatment plan and a date for his return.
DailyDrop U.K. edition No. 10 · Morning · WED., OCT. 14, 2026