Pope has 'peaceful' night in hospital following surgery, Vatican says
Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery.
Pope Leo XIV had a "peaceful" night in the hospital following his surgery on Tuesday, the Vatican's press office said early Wednesday.
"The Pope had a peaceful night," the office said. "More information will follow later today."
The pontiff was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery to have the lower lobe of his right lung removed, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
In a release from the Holy See Press Office, Dr. Luigi Carbone and Prof. Stefano Margaritora explained that the pontiff underwent a minimally invasive camera-guided surgical procedure.
"The intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the preoperative tests," the press release read.
Leo was in the operating room for about three hours, which included about 90 minutes for the "successfull" surgery, the Vatican said.
He's recovering at Gemelli Hospital, the largest hospital in Rome and the primary medical facility used by popes, including Leo's immediatepredecessor, Pope Francis, who died in 2025 at the age of 88.
Leo, a Chicago native and the first American pope, who was previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the church's 267th pontiff in May 2025.
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, of Chicago, said in a statement that the pope's diagnosis was "not the news we hoped for," but added that he and his archdiocese were "heartened by the skill and optimism of his physicians and the countless prayers offered around the world for his complete recovery."
"I ask that the people of good will everywhere, but particularly here, in Pope Leo’s hometown join me in asking the Lord to return this son of Chicago to wellness," Cupich said. "He has much more good work to do, many more wise words to preach and many more ways to inspire others."
