Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed with Lung Cancer After Surgery
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery to remove a portion of his right lung, revealing a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and cancelling his public audiences through Oct. 20.
Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a form of non-small cell lung cancer, after part of his right lung was removed at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican said on Monday. The 71-year-old pontiff returned to his room following a surgery that the Vatican described as completed "successfully, on schedule and as planned."
The operation, led by Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora, was preceded by a rosary prayer in the hospital chapel. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar of Rome, invited prayers for the pope’s recovery. Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York expressed gratitude for the successful procedure, stating, "We thank God that the surgery on Pope Leo was, by all accounts, successful, and that he continues his recovery and recuperation."
The Vatican announced that all of Leo’s public audiences are cancelled through Oct. 20, and a week-long hospital stay is expected. The pope had previously disclosed the presence of a small lung nodule discovered during his Sunday prayer and opted for removal to avoid disrupting his upcoming Latin American trip scheduled for November.
Pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square expressed mixed feelings; Yolanda Avella of Tampa said she was "a little worried because it is a nodule in the lung, but we know it’s for his health."
The Vatican noted that Leo is not known to have smoked, and adenocarcinoma can affect both smokers and non-smokers. It remains unclear whether additional treatment will be required or when the pope will resume his duties.