Pope Leo XIV had surgery on Tuesday that confirmed he has lung cancer, and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said. The tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, which had been suspected by preoperative tests and was confirmed during surgery. The surgery was successful with no complications, and the pontiff was in the operating room for about three hours, with the procedure itself lasting approximately 90 minutes.
Leo walked into Rome’s Gemelli hospital through the main entrance earlier in the day and waved to well-wishers. The surgery was performed by a team led by Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora. The Vatican noted the removal was described as 'radical,' indicating doctors removed all suspect tissue in hopes of eliminating any lingering traces of cancer. No mention was made of chemotherapy or other therapies going forward.
The American pontiff had revealed the discovery of a small, localized nodule during his Sunday noon prayer and announced he would have it removed. Oncologists said prior to the operation that even if the nodule was cancerous, his prognosis is 'excellent' since it was caught at an early stage. The Vatican canceled all his audiences through Oct. 20, and Leo is staying in a nearby room at Gemelli while the papal apartment undergoes renovations.
There was no word on whether he would be able to keep his planned trip to South America next month. Oncologists often advise patients not to fly for three weeks after surgery, which would align with the timing of his Nov. 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu said Leo decided to undergo surgery soon to avoid changing his overseas plans, adding, 'there is no need to worry, as it is not an emergency.'
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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