Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent successful surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday, the Vatican said.
The 71-year-old pontiff had a 90-minute procedure to extract a mass identified as pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The Vatican stated the operation was successful with no complications, and the Pope awoke normally after a brief observation period. Doctors removed the entire lower lobe "to ensure the procedure was radical," the Vatican added.
The growth was detected during routine checks and the Pope himself announced the operation on Sunday from St Peter's Square balcony, describing the nodule as contained and found at an early stage. He said his doctors advised removal. A Vatican source told Agence France-Presse that further tests are underway to determine whether the cancer has spread.
The Pope, described by the Vatican as generally fit with no prior symptoms of illness, cleared his schedule until October 20 to recover. Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo said he had an audience with the pontiff on Monday and that Leo felt physically well. The Pope decided to proceed with surgery quickly because he plans to travel to Latin America in early November, including a visit to Peru where he previously served as a missionary and bishop.
The diagnosis has unsettled Catholics across Europe and beyond. Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, told journalists on Tuesday the news struck "like a bolt from the blue" but said cardinals were impressed by the Pope's "serenity" and confident in his recovery. The Pope is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week.
Outside Gemelli Hospital, which has treated multiple popes, Catholics gathered to pray and wait for updates. Worshippers expressed both concern and reassurance from the Pope's calm demeanor during admission, though some acknowledged the reminder of his vulnerability.