Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV, 71, has been diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The diagnosis follows a thoracic surgery in which the lower lobe of his right lung was removed. Doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora identified the cancer through tissue analysis.

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is the most frequent subtype of lung cancer and a member of the non-small cell lung cancer group, which accounts for approximately 80–85% of all cases. Medical experts note that this specific subtype often develops in the peripheral zones of the lungs and can be difficult to detect early because it frequently presents no evident symptoms in its initial stages.

While smoking remains the primary risk factor, medical professionals highlight that adenocarcinoma is increasingly diagnosed in non-smokers. Other contributing factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, environmental pollution, radon gas, arsenic, asbestos, and certain chronic lung diseases.