Catholic News Digest – October 14, 2026

The Vatican announced Tuesday evening, Oct. 13, that Pope Leo XIV has lung adenocarcinoma. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung during surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, using a video-assisted technique. The Holy See Press Office said an examination during the operation confirmed the diagnosis, which had been suspected before surgery. The operation was described as successful. Pope Leo had announced on Sunday that he would undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule, speaking about his health at the end of the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square.

The pope entered the hospital on Oct. 13, and the Vatican said his appointments were canceled through Oct. 20. Vatican News reported that he was expected to remain in hospital for at least a week as he recovers. The diagnosis has drawn prayers from Catholics in Rome and around the world. On Oct. 13, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, presided at a prayer gathering outside Gemelli Hospital. The reports do not give further details about the pope’s treatment or prognosis.

Pope Leo’s public announcement of his planned operation has been described by EWTN News as an unusual degree of personal openness for a pope. He told pilgrims on Sunday that he would soon have surgery on one of his lungs. Senior cardinals welcomed the disclosure as an act of transparency and trust, according to EWTN. The Vatican’s Tuesday statement then confirmed that the removed tissue was cancerous. The reports describe the surgery and diagnosis but do not say what further medical care the pope will receive.

Catholics have also turned to saints associated with illness and healing as they pray for Pope Leo. EWTN News and the National Catholic Register recalled St. Bernardine of Siena, the 15th-century Franciscan preacher who is associated with lung and respiratory ailments. Bernardine was known as the “Apostle of Italy” and had suffered from a weak voice and serious respiratory and throat problems early in life. Another report from EWTN describes devotion to St. Peregrine Laziosi, a 14th-century Servite priest long invoked by people facing cancer. Such devotions accompany the Church’s prayer for the pope; the reports do not present them as medical claims.

The Vatican’s announcement has also prompted questions about the governance of the Holy See during a pope’s hospitalization. EWTN News reported that Pope Leo’s scheduled appointments were canceled through Oct. 20, and explained that a hospital stay by itself does not transfer the papal office to another person. The article examines the distinction between temporary inability to carry out public duties and a formal vacancy of the See. The supplied report does not indicate that the Vatican has announced any change in the pope’s authority or in the ordinary administration of the Church.

In Washington, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees Catholic pastoral services for U.S. military personnel, said Catholic soldiers should not serve on a firing squad. National Catholic Reporter said Broglio was condemning a proposed livestream of the execution of Nidal Hasan. The outlet also reported that Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro, the Vatican’s pro-life chief, told it that technology companies have a moral obligation to refuse participation in streaming an upcoming federal execution by firing squad. The statements address both the participation of Catholics in an execution and the role of companies asked to broadcast it.

In Brazil, Cardinal Paulo Cezar Costa, archbishop of Brasília, received presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro and his running mate, Congressman Alfredo Gaspar, on Oct. 8. The Archdiocese of Brasília called the meeting an “institutional visit” and said it took place in a cordial atmosphere of dialogue. Its statement said the participants discussed issues of interest to the Church and Brazilian society. The supplied account does not describe an endorsement or provide further detail about the topics raised. The visit comes as the two politicians campaign on behalf of the Liberal Party.

Catholic voters in the United States favor Democratic candidates for the House by a narrow margin, according to a Pew Research Center survey reported by EWTN News. Among Catholic registered voters, Democrats held a three-point advantage over Republicans ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Pew surveyed 5,062 adults, including 3,917 registered voters, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 through its American Trends Panel. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points, meaning the result describes a close contest rather than a settled preference. It records voter intentions at the time of the survey.

In Kenya, children living on the streets in southern Nairobi are finding a place to develop their skills at the Tone la Maji centre, whose name means “a drop of water.” Vatican News reported on a recent visit to the centre, where the young people explore their talents and hopes for the future. Elsewhere in Africa, the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles are combining care for creation with their missionary work through gardens, farming, tree planting, environmental education and advocacy. Their projects respond to both community needs and environmental concerns.

As Catholics pray for Pope Leo, the sick and those who care for them, the Church’s life continues in hospitals, parishes and communities. May those facing illness receive wise care, patient companionship and the support of people who remain close to them.