Pope Leo XIV arrives in Beirut, following his visit to Turkey, Nov. 30, 2025. Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, and a lower lobe of his right lung was removed during surgery, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin. (Diego Ibarra Sánchez/The New York Times) By MOTOKO RICH When Leo XIV was elected pope less than 18 months ago, he seemed to have years ahead of him to shape the Roman Catholic Church. At 69, he was young by recent papal standards, and the faithful…
