Pope Leo XIV, at 71 years old, has spent a restful night in the hospital following a significant surgery to remove part of his right lung due to a confirmed cancer diagnosis. The Vatican announced early Wednesday that the operation was successful, with more details expected later in the day.
The pontiff was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a prevalent type of non-small cell lung cancer that constitutes 80% of lung cancer cases, according to the American Lung Association. The surgery, which took place at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, involved the removal of a malignant nodule and was described as lasting 90 minutes, though the pope remained in the operating room for nearly three hours.
Details about the next steps for treatment and whether the cancer has spread have yet to be disclosed by the Vatican. This health issue was first revealed by Pope Leo during a Sunday prayer, marking a rare moment of transparency concerning his health as the leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Upon his arrival at the hospital, the pope waved to the crowd, and the surgery was led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli, with medical staff reciting the rosary as the operation began. The procedure utilized a video-assisted technique, resulting in the successful removal of the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung.
Following the procedure, he was reported to have woken up normally and was moved to a recovery room adjacent to the traditional papal apartment, which is currently undergoing renovations. Although the pope is not known to be a smoker, this form of cancer can affect both smokers and non-smokers alike.
The diagnosis has raised concerns about the impact on Pope Leo’s busy schedule, including a planned historic visit to South America next month, which is now uncertain. In the days leading up to his surgery, he had participated in various public events, including a mass in Paris that attracted hundreds of thousands.
Messages of support have flooded in from around the world, with notable figures such as New York City’s Archbishop Ronald Hicks expressing gratitude for the successful surgery and wishing for the pope’s continued recovery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have also conveyed their well-wishes, emphasizing the pope’s significance in addressing global issues.
Photo credit: Tiziana Fabi
