Pope Leo XIV's health: from Gemelli surgery to the immunotherapy report

From the nodule announced at the Angelus on 11 October to the Brazilian press report of 23 October on preventive immunotherapy: here, step by step, is what is official about Pope Leo XIV's health and what still lacks confirmation from the Holy See Press Office.

Official timeline.

11 October. The Pope himself announced it at the Angelus: "during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it" (Angelus text). That evening spokesman Matteo Bruni said the operation would take place early the following week.

12 October. The Press Office said the nodule had emerged during routine check-ups; Bruni announced that the Pope would be admitted to the Gemelli Hospital the next day, "in the late morning". The Prefecture of the Papal Household cancelled all audiences until 20 October (B0807).

13 October. The Pope was admitted to the Gemelli and operated on in the afternoon by the thoracic surgery team led by Prof. Stefano Margaritora (13 October note). In the evening a statement signed by Dr Luigi Carbone and Margaritora said: "To make the operation radical, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique. The intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the pre-operative tests" (our translation). The operation lasted about 90 minutes, "was successful and there were no complications" (our translation) (B0809).

14-16 October. The doctors' daily updates described a regular recovery: normal blood tests and X-rays, respiratory physiotherapy, the first steps in his room, then "the good recovery of the operated lung" and "the steady improvement of his general condition" (our translation) (14, 15, 16 October).

17 October. The Pope was "judged fit for discharge" (our translation) (doctors' note) and returned to the Vatican in the afternoon. The same day Margaritora told Vatican News the operation had been "a routine operation" and that the discovery of the tumour had been "absolutely by chance", found during routine abdominal tests (interview).

18 October. From the window of the Apostolic Palace, at his first Angelus since the hospital stay, he thanked the faithful and said he would gradually resume his activities (Angelus text).

21 October. In St Peter's Square, his first General Audience since surgery: "The first thing I would like to say is thank you! Thank you for the support of your prayers" (catechesis). In the evening came the note on the final histology: Carbone and Margaritora wrote that the results "confirmed that it was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological evaluation confirmed that no further therapy is necessary" (our translation).

23 October: no Assisi on the 27th. The Press Office said a follow-up chest X-ray "confirmed that his postoperative recovery is progressing very well", but doctors, "as a precaution", advised against the planned helicopter journey to Assisi on 27 October for the Community of Sant'Egidio meeting "Unarmed and Disarming Peace". The Pope will send a message. Our earlier article: Pope Leo XIV will not go to Assisi on 27 October.

REPORT | Preventive immunotherapy and clinical details (Brazilian press). On 23 October journalist Mirticeli Medeiros (GloboNews/G1), citing Gemelli hospital sources, reported that Pope Leo XIV will receive preventive immunotherapy with an immunotherapy drug (pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda) for at least three years, to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. According to Estadão/UOL, neither chemotherapy nor radiotherapy is planned (G1; Estadão/UOL).

Later that same day, in GloboNews's Em Ponto video (~1:28 p.m. Rome time), Medeiros — again citing Gemelli sources, in an exclusive she said was absent from the Vatican bulletin and from the Italian press — added three details about the removed tissue: the localized pulmonary adenocarcinoma measured 2.5 cm in diameter; there was no angiolymphatic invasion (no tumour cells in the blood or lymphatic vessels of the specimen); and the profile was PD-L1 positive. PD-L1 is a marker on tumour cells that helps doctors choose immunotherapy. According to Medeiros, this profile is linked to the Pope's family history — his mother died of cancer; his brother Louis Prevost is being treated for cancer — and would explain why he would respond well to the treatment already reported. (GloboNews post on X).

This account contradicts the official note of 21 October, which said "no further therapy is necessary". So far the Press Office has not commented on the report or the additional clinical details. It remains a press story, not a Vatican statement.

The South America trip. The apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru is scheduled for 6-17 November, but since the surgery the Holy See has not officially confirmed it. On 17 October Margaritora told Vatican News he saw no "clinical reasons" why the trip should not take place — a medical assessment, not a Press Office decision. On 21 October the Apostolic Nuncio to Peru, Paolo Rocco Gualtieri, told EWTN News the trip was "confirmed" (our translation); the final word rests with the Holy See.

What we don't know. Whether preventive immunotherapy will actually begin and on what schedule; whether the Press Office will confirm or deny the GloboNews details (2.5 cm size, no angiolymphatic invasion, PD-L1 positive status and family link); whether and when it will comment on the Brazilian report; the calendar of further check-ups; whether the South America trip programme will change or receive an official confirmation after the surgery.

Sources: Holy See Press Office note, 21 October 2026 · medical updates 13-17 October · Vatican News on Assisi, 23 October · G1 / Mirticeli Medeiros · Estadão/UOL · GloboNews / Medeiros on X, 23 October

#LeoXIV