The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during surgery in Rome. The medical bulletin said tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma after the operation on Tuesday.
Diagnosis confirmed during surgery
The Vatican said the diagnosis had been suspected by preoperative tests and was confirmed during the operation. The 71-year-old pontiff was in the operating theatre for about three hours, according to the statement, with the surgery itself lasting approximately 90 minutes.
“The surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” the statement added. The operation was performed by a team led by Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon, Dr Stefano Margaritora.
Pope’s rare transparency
Leo had walked into Rome’s Gemelli hospital through the main entrance earlier in the day and waved to dozens of well-wishers gathered to greet him. The American pontiff has offered a rare level of transparency about the first publicly disclosed major health problem of his 17-month papacy.
He revealed the discovery of the small, localised nodule during his Sunday noon prayer and announced that he would have it removed. Oncologists said prior to the operation that even if the nodule turned out to be cancerous, Leo’s prognosis is “excellent” since it will have been removed at an early stage.
Recovery arrangements
On Monday, the Vatican cancelled all Leo’s audiences through until October 20. While Gemelli has a specific papal apartment that past popes have used, complete with a private chapel on the 10th floor, Leo will actually be staying in a nearby room since the papal apartment is currently undergoing renovations, according to the Vatican press office.
