Pope Leo XIV Says He Will Gradually Resume Duties After Lung Cancer Surgery
Pope Leo XIV told the faithful he will "gradually resume" his duties after lung cancer surgery during the Angelus at St. Peter's Square on Sunday, October 18, 2026.[1]
He said the "delicate phase" of treatment is behind him and thanked staff at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.[2] His surgeon said there are no clinical reasons to cancel the pope's planned November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.[1]
On Tuesday, October 13, 2026 surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung in a roughly 90-minute, video-assisted minimally invasive operation.[3] Pathology on the removed tissue confirmed lung adenocarcinoma.[3] He was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Saturday after blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed his condition, and video showed him walking out of the hospital unassisted.[3]
Early coverage emphasized the pope's rapid recovery and the routine, minimally invasive nature of the operation, but later reporting has flagged uncertainty because doctors are still awaiting molecular and genetic test results to determine whether more treatment will be needed.[1]
Medical bulletins say the pope has been carrying on normal daily activities completely on his own, even as clinicians await genomic results that will clarify prognosis and next steps.[4] Oncology surgeons note that, if recovery continues to go well, patients are often cleared to fly about three weeks after this kind of procedure, and Vatican preparations for the November 6-17 trip are continuing.[4]
Show source details & analysis (7 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, October 13, 2026 surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted, minimally invasive technique in a roughly 90-minute operation.
- Pathology on the removed tissue confirmed lung adenocarcinoma.
- On Saturday, October 17, 2026 Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and returned to the Vatican after blood tests and a chest X‑ray performed that morning confirmed his clinical condition for discharge.
- On Sunday, October 18, 2026 the pope appeared at the Angelus window, thanked Gemelli Hospital staff, said the “delicate phase” of treatment is behind him and told the faithful he will “gradually resume” his activities.
- Dr. Stefano Margaritora — the surgeon who operated — said the tumor was discovered “entirely by chance,” sat at the base of the right lung, the operation was routine and without complications, and he described Leo as an “ideal patient.”
- Vatican preparations for the pope’s planned November 6–17, 2026 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru are continuing, and his surgeon has said there are no clinical reasons to cancel the journey.
- Medical bulletins say Leo has been able to carry on “normal daily activities completely on his own,” but doctors are still awaiting molecular and genetic test results to determine whether the cancer has spread and whether further treatment is needed; oncology surgeons also note patients are generally cleared to fly about three weeks after this type of surgery if recovery proceeds well.
📰 Source Timeline (7)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
October 18, 2026
4:34 PM
Pope Leo tells faithful in St. Peter's Square he will gradually resume duties after cancer surgery
New information:
- On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Pope Leo XIV personally appeared at the Angelus window in St. Peter's Square, thanked thousands of faithful for their prayers, and said he will gradually resume his activities after lung cancer surgery.
- Leo said the "delicate phase" of his treatment is behind him and that the experience of the past week made him feel especially close to people facing illness and infirmity.
- He offered specific thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at Rome's Gemelli Hospital and briefly addressed the crowd before retreating into the Apostolic Palace.
- The article recounts reactions from pilgrims and tourists, including several Americans, who described being present as the pope returned to public view and expressed confidence in his recovery.
- The piece reiterates that his next major engagement is a November 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, and notes his surgeon sees no clinical reason to cancel it.
12:55 PM
Pope Leo says he will gradually resume duties after cancer surgery
New information:
- On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appeared at his study window overlooking St. Peter's Square for the traditional Angelus, thanked thousands for their prayers, and said that now that the 'delicate phase' is behind him he will 'gradually resume' his activities.
- The article reiterates that the lower lobe of Pope Leo's right lung was removed on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and confirms pathology showed adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
- The pope said his experience over the past week made him feel especially close to those facing illness and infirmity and expressed particular gratitude to staff at Rome's Gemelli hospital.
- The report highlights reactions from pilgrims, including multiple American tourists who traveled hoping to see the first U.S.-born pope and expressed relief at his quick public return.
- The article notes that Pope Leo's next major engagement is an ambitious November 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru involving about a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes, and quotes surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora saying there are 'no clinical reasons' the trip should not take place and that he expects full recovery 'in another 10 days.'
11:28 AM
Pope Leo says he will resume activities after cancer surgery
New information:
- On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appeared at the Angelus in St. Peter's Square and told thousands of faithful he will 'gradually resume' his activities after lung cancer surgery.
- Leo spoke from the Apostolic Palace window four days after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung, saying the 'delicate phase' of his treatment is behind him and thanking staff at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
- The article reiterates that pathology from the October 13, 2026 operation confirmed adenocarcinoma but notes that no detailed prognosis has been made public.
- The report highlights strong crowd reaction, including American pilgrims who traveled to see the first U.S.-born pope and expressed relief at his rapid recovery.
- Leo's surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican News that 'there are no clinical reasons' to cancel the pope's November 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru and said the pope has 'put his heart and soul into his recovery.'
October 17, 2026
7:53 PM
Pope's surgeon details operating on "ideal patient" after lung cancer discovered
New information:
- In an interview published Saturday, October 17, 2026, Dr. Stefano Margaritora said Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer was discovered "entirely by chance" during examinations for other reasons, not through preventive screening.
- Margaritora said the tumor was located at the base of the pope's right lung and might not have been seen if it were positioned slightly higher.
- The surgeon reiterated that Pope Leo had no respiratory symptoms and "felt perfectly well" before the diagnosis, underscoring that early-stage lung cancers can be asymptomatic.
- Margaritora described the operation to remove the lung nodule as routine and said it proceeded "without any complications."
- During his four-day stay at Gemelli Hospital after the Tuesday, October 13 surgery, Margaritora called Leo an "ideal patient" who cooperated fully with staff and caused "not the slightest problem."
- On the second day after surgery, staff found the pope physically arranging chairs in the hospital's makeshift chapel; he reportedly told them, "It doesn't matter. I can do it, so I will."
- The article notes that by Thursday, October 15, Pope Leo had resumed some work activity, and by Friday, October 16, he had held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and in-person meetings with senior cardinals.
- The piece emphasizes Margaritora's public-health message that regular preventive checkups for other cancers are important because early-stage tumors like the pope's may show no symptoms.
3:27 PM
Pope Leo returns to the Vatican 4 days after lung cancer surgery
New information:
- On Saturday, October 17, 2026, Pope Leo returned to the Vatican from Rome's Gemelli Hospital four days after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
- Leo told reporters "I am much better, thank you" as he left in a black SUV and greeted patients inside the hospital alongside his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora.
- A 13-year-old Ukrainian girl who survived cancer gave Leo a homemade papal doll outside the hospital, and he paused to receive it before departing.
- The Vatican now plans for Leo to resume some duties on Sunday, October 18, 2026, including delivering the Angelus blessing from the Vatican.
- The article confirms that Vatican preparations for Leo's November 6–17, 2026 Latin America trip are continuing, with accredited journalists' names already published.
- Oncology surgeons cited in the report say patients are generally cleared to fly about three weeks after such surgery if recovery proceeds well.
- Doctors are still awaiting molecular and genetic test results on the tumor to determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the removed lobe and whether further treatment is needed.
- Medical bulletins state Leo has been able to carry on "normal daily activities completely on his own" following surgery and that tests on Friday confirmed his continued improvement.
3:10 PM
Pope Leo XIV leaves hospital days after lung cancer surgery
New information:
- On Saturday, October 17, 2026, Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital and returned to the Vatican after post-operative tests showed he was well enough to leave.
- The Vatican cited blood tests and a chest X-ray performed the morning of October 17 as confirming his clinical condition for discharge.
- Treating physicians said pathology on the removed lung tissue confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.
- Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope's right lung using a video-assisted, minimally invasive technique in a roughly 90-minute operation on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
- Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said the estimated post-operative recovery time will be about one week, and Leo is expected to lead the Angelus prayer from the papal apartment window on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- Video from October 17 shows Leo walking out of the hospital without physical support, waving to well-wishers; he also celebrated Mass on the hospital's 10th floor before departure.
- The article notes that Leo is 71, has a family history of cancer, is not known to have smoked, and remains physically active with regular tennis and horseback riding.
- Outside experts quoted say the reliance on surgery as the first treatment and the minimally invasive removal of a lung lobe suggest an early-stage cancer with a favorable prognosis.