Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the Vatican, following a procedure that removed a portion of the American pontiff’s right lung.
Doctors diagnosed the 71-year-old pope with lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer, the Holy See press office said Tuesday. The diagnosis was suspected by preoperative tests, his doctors said.
The operation to remove part of his lung lasted about 90 minutes, and there were no complications.
Leo has awakened normally and is resting in his hospital room at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. He is expected to remain there for about a week.
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His scheduled audiences and public engagements have been canceled through Oct. 20. His planned Nov. 6-17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru could be affected, depending on his recovery.