Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, has lung cancer and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed Tuesday in Rome, the Vatican said. In Baltimore, home of the nation’s oldest Catholic diocese, Archbishop William E. Lori has asked the faithful to pray for the 71-year-old pontiff, and doctors’ advice on early detection is a reminder for many Marylanders to ask whether they qualify for lung cancer screening.
What happened to Pope Leo XIV?
Leo disclosed during his Sunday noon prayer on Oct. 11 that doctors had found a small, localized nodule in his lung and that he would have it removed, the Associated Press reported. The Vatican then canceled all of his audiences through Oct. 20.
On Tuesday, Oct. 13, he walked into Rome’s Gemelli hospital and underwent surgery led by chief thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora. The AP reported he was in the operating room for about three hours, with the procedure itself lasting about 90 minutes. A Vatican medical bulletin said the operation was successful with no complications and that tests confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, which preoperative tests had suspected.
On Wednesday morning, the Vatican said the pope spent “a tranquil night” in the hospital and that more information would follow, according to the AP. The Vatican has not said how long he will remain hospitalized, what stage the cancer is, or whether further treatment is planned.
Timeline of the pope’s diagnosis
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Sunday, Oct. 11 | Leo announces a small, localized lung nodule and plans for surgery |
| Monday, Oct. 12 | Vatican cancels papal audiences through Oct. 20 |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 | Admitted to Gemelli hospital; lower lobe of right lung removed; adenocarcinoma confirmed |
| Tuesday, Oct. 13 | Archbishop Lori issues a call for prayer in the Archdiocese of Baltimore |
| Wednesday, Oct. 14 | Vatican reports a “tranquil night”; further update expected |
What did Archbishop Lori say?
Lori released a statement Tuesday asking Catholics in the archdiocese, which covers Baltimore City and nine Maryland counties, to pray for the pope’s health and recovery.
“I invite the faithful of the Archdiocese of Baltimore to join me in praying for the health and strength of the Holy Father.”
Archbishop William E. Lori, Archdiocese of Baltimore
The statement closes with a prayer entrusting the pope to Mary under the title Our Lady, Health of the Sick. The Archdiocese of Baltimore, founded in 1789, was the first Catholic diocese in the United States.
What is lung adenocarcinoma?
Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer, the broad category that accounts for most lung cancers in the United States. It often starts in the outer parts of the lung, which is one reason it can be found as a small nodule on a scan before it causes symptoms. Removing a lobe of the lung, called a lobectomy, is a standard operation for early-stage disease.
Before the surgery, oncologists cited by the AP said that if the nodule proved cancerous, the prognosis would be excellent because it was being removed at an early stage. The Vatican has not released staging details, so outside doctors cannot yet say what follow-up care the pope will need.
How does Maryland compare on lung cancer?
The American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of Lung Cancer” report, released in November 2025, found Maryland does better than the national average on several measures, but most cases in the state are still caught late.
- New cases: 49.0 per 100,000 people in Maryland, compared with 52.8 nationally.
- Early diagnosis: 28.2% of Maryland cases are caught at an early stage, close to the national 28.1%.
- Screening: 19.2% of eligible Marylanders were screened, compared with 18.2% nationally.
- Five-year survival: 31.2% in Maryland, compared with 29.7% nationally.
- Disparity: Latino Marylanders were the least likely to be diagnosed early, at 22.8%.
Who should get screened for lung cancer?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a yearly low-dose CT scan for adults ages 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. A pack-year equals smoking one pack a day for a year, so 20 pack-years could mean one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.
Screening is not recommended for people who have never smoked or who fall outside those criteria, though anyone with symptoms such as a persistent cough, coughing up blood or unexplained weight loss should see a doctor. The Vatican has not said how the pope’s nodule was first detected.
Marylanders who think they qualify can ask a primary care doctor for a referral. Because the Task Force gives the scan a “B” grade, the Affordable Care Act requires most private health plans to cover it for eligible patients without a copay.
For more on the Catholic calendar this month, see our guide to October 2026 church holidays in the USA.
Featured image: Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Photo: Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.