Pope Leo has cancer, underwent surgery to remove piece of lung, Vatican says

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Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday that confirmed he has lung cancer with the lower lobe of his right lung removed, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

CBS News reported the tests confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said after the surgery.

The Holy Father, 71, was in the operating room for nearly three hours, a news release from the Holy See said.

Operation went as planned: Vatican

“As planned, the Holy Father underwent thoracic surgery,” the statement said. “To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of his right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique. An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the preoperative examinations.

“The Holy Father was in the operating room for approximately three hours; the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes. The operation was successful and there were no complications.”

The Pope then regained consciousness normally and was taken back to his room at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican said. The surgery was performed Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli. The hospital has a specific papal apartment with a private chapel on the 10th floor. The Pope is staying in a nearby room as the apartment is undergoing renovations.

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Optimistic outlook: Oncologists

The Vatican cancelled all of the Holy Father’s audiences through to Oct. 20 and there was no update as to whether he would be able to keep his planned trip to South America next month.

Oncologists said that despite the cancer discovery, the Holy Father’s prognosis is “excellent” since it was removed at an early stage. The Pope has been candid about his health issues, revealing the small, localized nodule during Sunday noon prayers.

In the meantime, Cardinal Frank Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto, invited Toronto Catholics to pray to Mary for the Holy Father.

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