Pope Leo spent a quiet night at Gemelli Hospital after his tumor was removed.

Vatican City – Pope Leo XIV spent his first night at the Gemelli Polyclinic after undergoing surgery to remove lung cancer. The Holy See Press Office announced that the Pontiff spent a "peaceful" night. Further information on Prevost's health will be released "during the day."

The operation was performed yesterday afternoon and, according to the Vatican, was successful. The Pope remained in the operating room for approximately three hours, while the surgical procedure itself lasted 90 minutes. Afterward, he was transferred to his room on the tenth floor of the hospital, a different room from the one previously used by Pope Francis.

Doctors expect him to remain hospitalized for several days and estimate the initial recovery time to be about a week. The bulletin did not provide any information about any chemotherapy treatments.

The diagnosis: circumscribed adenocarcinoma

The extemporaneous histological examination confirmed the diagnosis assumed before surgery: a localized adenocarcinoma. This is one of the three main subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer and the most common. It generally develops in the more peripheral areas of the organ, near the smaller bronchi, and accounts for approximately 60% of cases. In Italy, lung cancer accounts for 27.100 new diagnoses each year among men and 16.400 among women, according to Airtum 2025 data.

Claudio Micheletto, director of the Pulmonology Unit at the University Hospital of Verona and a member of the board of the Italian Association of Hospital Pulmonologists, explained that the Pope's tumor was identified at an early stage and confined to one lobe.

In these cases, surgery can be curative, but the evaluation must also take into account the definitive histological examination and the possible presence of tumor cells in the lymph nodes. The specialist also noted that this type of tumor is not necessarily associated with smoking.

Hearings suspended and trip to South America

His convalescence has already brought changes to the papal agenda. The Prefecture of the Papal Household has announced the cancellation of audiences through Tuesday, October 20. It remains unclear, however, whether his recovery will allow Leo XIV to maintain his apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, scheduled for November 6-17.

The program includes several stops, meetings, and celebrations, in addition to a return to the diocese of Chiclayo, where Prevost served as bishop, and a meeting with indigenous peoples in the Peruvian Amazon. Micheletto urged caution: just a few weeks before departure, a long flight and internal travel could prove challenging, although, in the absence of complications, a person can return to walking and normal activities after about twenty days.

Breathing and recovery times

Regarding respiratory function, the removal of the lower right lobe will result in a reduction, but not necessarily equal to the anatomical portion removed. According to the pulmonologist, the two remaining lobes, the middle and upper, can dilate and partially compensate for the loss. The ability to travel will therefore depend on the postoperative progress and clinical evaluations over the next few days.