Pope Leo makes remarks as those close to him grapple with his cancer diagnosis

NPR | By Ayesha Rascoe,

Scott Detrow

Published October 18, 2026 at 8:01 AM EDT

This morning in Rome, Pope Leo made his first public remarks since his cancer diagnosis. Meanwhile, people close to Leo are reckoning with how the diagnosis could affect his papacy.

Ayesha Rascoe

Ayesha Rascoe is the host of Weekend Edition Sunday and the Saturday episodes of Up First.

See stories by Ayesha Rascoe

Scott Detrow

Scott Detrow is a host of All Things Considered, as well as NPR’s daily news podcast Consider This.

See stories by Scott Detrow

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