Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican confirmed, following a diagnosis of lung cancer. Well-wishers have left flowers and images of the pope at the base of a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside the hospital, a gesture of support that has become customary during past papal hospital stays.
The Gemelli Polyclinic has long served as the hospital of choice for popes needing significant medical care, including multiple stays by Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis in past decades. Its proximity to the Vatican and its dedicated papal suite make it the natural site for major procedures involving the Holy See's leadership.
Vatican officials have not provided a detailed recovery timeline, but lung lobectomies, the type of procedure used to remove a lobe of the lung, typically require a hospital stay of several days followed by weeks of recovery before a return to a full schedule. Catholics around the world, including in communities that follow the pope's travels and public audiences closely, have been watching for updates on his condition and on how it might affect his public calendar in the coming weeks.
The news has prompted an outpouring of well wishes from Catholic communities and government leaders across the world, reflecting the pope's role not only as a religious leader but as a global figure whose health is followed well beyond the Church itself.
The Vatican is expected to provide further updates on the pope's recovery and on any adjustments to his public schedule, including upcoming audiences and travel.
Where is the Pope recovering?
At the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, the hospital traditionally used for major papal medical procedures.
What surgery did he have?
Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the Vatican.