Vatican Minister: Pope's Cancer Diagnosis Is a Game-Changer

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the foreign minister of the Holy See, described Pope Leo XIV’s cancer diagnosis as a game-changer for the Vatican on Tuesday. The British diplomat spoke at the Italian foreign press association, noting that the health issue shifts how observers view the 71-year-old pontiff.

Leo underwent surgery on October 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Doctors identified the tumor as adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Subsequent tests showed no further treatment is required. The pope has resumed his daily activities while recovering.

Gallagher said there was an early temptation to view Leo as a superhuman figure after his election in 2025. That perception followed the prolonged illness and death of Pope Francis. The foreign minister argued that the diagnosis humanizes the pope. He suggested the illness changes how Leo sees himself as well as how the public sees him.

Despite the recent procedure, the Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that Leo will proceed with his planned trip to Latin America from November 6 to 17. The itinerary covers Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The journey involves 12 flights and two helicopter rides, spanning 19,000 miles. It is the longest trip of Leo’s pontificate.

Gallagher explained that Leo simply wanted to travel. The pope spent two decades as a missionary in Peru, where he holds citizenship. He has expressed a deep attachment to the country and his former diocese of Chiclayo. Medical advice from a clinical standpoint is positive, allowing him to feel confident about the journey.

The minister also predicted that Leo will visit his native United States in the not-too-distant future. Gallagher noted that the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections next month could influence the timing. The Vatican typically avoids papal visits during national election campaigns. Preliminary discussions have considered aligning a U.S. trip with the United Nations General Assembly or a stop in Mexico.

Gallagher said it is highly likely Leo will travel to Australia in 2028 to conclude the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney. A visit to South Korea for World Youth Day is expected in August 2027. These plans remain tentative but are on the diplomatic calendar.

Working under both Pope Francis and Leo, Gallagher described the current pope as pensive and well-informed. He noted that Leo often already knows the details of foreign policy briefings by the time they are presented. The foreign minister also mentioned that he did not know about the planned surgery until Leo announced it publicly on October 11. Gallagher rejected the idea that Vatican bureaucracy would stifle Leo’s agenda, stating that the pope has his own appetite for action.