Rome: Pope Leo XIV has undergone surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung, with the Vatican confirming that the 71-year-old pontiff is recovering after a successful operation at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

The 90-minute procedure, performed on Tuesday, involved removing the lower lobe of the pope's right lung after doctors confirmed the presence of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.

The Vatican said the pontiff "woke up normally" following the surgery, which was completed without complications.

"To ensure the procedure was radical, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed," the Vatican said in a statement.

The operation "confirmed the diagnosis of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the pre-operative tests", it added.

Although the surgery lasted approximately 90 minutes, Leo spent a total of three hours in the operating room.

"The surgery was successful and there were no complications," the Vatican said.

A Vatican source said the pope was recovering well enough to request dinner following the procedure. However, further medical examinations are underway to establish whether the cancer has spread beyond the affected lung.

The Vatican expects the pontiff's recovery to take approximately a week, with his scheduled audiences cancelled until October 20.

Doctors assess whether cancer has spread

Medical experts say the pope's long-term prognosis will depend largely on the stage of the disease and whether cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.

Juanita Mora, medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association, told AFP that lung adenocarcinoma can have a favourable prognosis when diagnosed and treated early.

She said that when this type of cancer is "caught in early stages, then it has a very, very good prognosis".

According to Mora, five-year survival rates can range from "80 to 98 percent" when the cancer is detected early, remains localised and is surgically removed.

However, doctors will need to examine the results of further tests before deciding whether additional treatment is necessary.

"They'll determine if he needs chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy for the adenocarcinoma," she said.

World leaders offer prayers for Pope Leo

News of the pontiff's surgery prompted messages of support and prayers from political leaders across the world.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a practising Catholic, said he and his wife were "united in prayer for (Leo's) health following his recent diagnosis".

"May the Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy Father," Rubio wrote on X.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also expressed concern over the pope's health, saying his "thoughts and prayers" were with the pontiff.

Albanese described Leo as "a voice for peace, humanity and reason in our modern world".

Pope's Latin America visit now uncertain

The surgery has raised questions over whether Pope Leo will be able to undertake his scheduled visit to Latin America next month.

The pontiff is expected to travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru between November 6 and 17. However, the Vatican has not confirmed whether the trip will proceed as planned following his diagnosis and surgery.

The operation marks Leo's first hospitalisation since becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025.

The pope had revealed his health condition during a surprise announcement following the Angelus prayers at St Peter's Square on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering, Leo said doctors had discovered a nodule "at a very early stage" during medical examinations.

"The doctors believe it would be right to intervene," he told the crowd.

According to the Vatican, the abnormality was detected during routine medical checks rather than investigations prompted by symptoms.

The Chicago-born pontiff, who became the first American pope, is known for his active lifestyle and had generally been considered to be in good health.

He arrived at Gemelli hospital on Tuesday morning smiling and waving to those gathered outside.

Following the operation, Leo was moved to a room on the hospital's 10th floor, near a papal suite equipped with a private chapel that is currently undergoing renovation.

Prayers held at Rome hospital

Concern over the pope's condition was evident among people gathered outside the hospital ahead of the operation.

Giorgia Fei, a 57-year-old Italian woman, said she had initially been worried about the diagnosis.

"However, the Holy Father is in very good hands here at the hospital because we have some outstanding doctors," she said.

"I will pray a lot for him."

Another visitor, 72-year-old Giuseppe Purpura, expressed surprise at the pope's diagnosis.

"He's still quite young and I really wasn't expecting this. I thought he was in better health," he said, noting that "thankfully it was caught in time".

Meanwhile, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, led a special rosary prayer for the pontiff at the hospital chapel.

Dozens of people attended the service, which was broadcast by the Vatican. Reina also urged parishes across Rome to join in prayers for the pope's recovery.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told Italian news agency ANSA that Leo had been "very calm" about his health condition when they met on Monday.

The Vatican's public updates on Leo's diagnosis and treatment reflect a gradual shift towards greater transparency regarding papal health.

Historically, the Holy See maintained strict secrecy around the medical conditions of pontiffs. However, Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, had been more open about his illnesses and treatment.

With the cancerous tumour removed, attention now turns to the results of further examinations, which will determine whether the pope requires additional treatment and how soon he can resume his public engagements.