By Zoila Palma: Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican announced.
The diagnosis was confirmed during the operation today after preoperative tests raised concerns about a lung nodule. The 71-year-old pontiff’s diagnosis marks the first publicly disclosed major health issue of his papacy.
According to a Vatican medical bulletin, the surgery was successful, with doctors reporting no complications. The procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes, while the pope spent about three hours in the operating room before returning to his room at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The Vatican described the removal as “radical,” indicating that the affected portion of the lung and the suspected cancerous tissue were removed.
The Vatican has not announced what treatment, if any, the pope will require next.
Doctors are awaiting additional test results, including information that could establish whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
Pope Leo had publicly disclosed the discovery of a lung nodule during his Sunday noon prayer and said he would undergo a procedure to have it removed.
The Vatican subsequently cancelled his scheduled audiences through October 20 as he recovers.
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