Pope Leo XIV Clears Lung Cancer Surgery, Focuses on Climate Action

After an operation to remove a small tumour from his lung, Pope Leo XIV has been declared cancer‑free – an outcome that comes just as the pontiff refocused on tackling climate change and pursuing peace in Ukraine. Italian surgeons successfully removed the lower lobe of his right lung on 13 October, and a subsequent biopsy confirmed the tumour was an early‑stage, localized lung adenocarcinoma. The Vatican said no further treatment was needed and the 71‑year‑old was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Thursday. The pope, who has repeatedly called for urgent action to curb global warming, returned to St Peter’s Square that evening for his first general audience since the operation. In addition to celebrating Eucharistic Mass, Pope Leo XIV has already taken up the phone with world leaders – calling both President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky to push for a cease‑fire and humanitarian relief in war‑torn Ukraine, as the climate crisis increasingly exacerbates conflict‑driven displacement. The pontiff has also signalled that a planned trip to Latin America in early November should not be postponed, a journey that will likely feature a visit to the Amazon basin and a series of emissions‑abatement pledges from regional governments. As health and climate stewardship intersect, many observers see the pope’s recovery as symbolic of a broader rebirth for environmental advocacy worldwide.