Pope diagnosed with lung cancer but had successful surgery, Vatican says
Pope Leo had successful surgery to remove a lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV, 71, was diagnosed with lung cancer after surgery on his right lung.
- The Vatican said the 90-minute operation was successful with no complications.
- He is expected to remain at Rome's Gemelli Hospital for about a week.
Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin. The 71-year-old had a 90-minute operation on Tuesday at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
The Vatican said the surgery was successful and there were no complications. It said the Pope woke normally and returned to his room after a period of observation. He is expected to stay in hospital for about a week.
What the Vatican said
The Vatican said the lump was first found during routine checks. The whole lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed to make the procedure radical, it said. Tests confirmed the growth was pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as pre-operative tests had suspected.
A Vatican source told Agence France-Presse that further tests were being carried out to see if the cancer had spread. The Vatican stressed that the pontiff, generally thought to be fit, had no symptoms of infection or illness.
The operation was successful and there were no complications.
— The Vatican
Reaction and recovery plans
Pope Leo announced the operation himself on Sunday from the balcony in St Peter's Square after the Angelus blessing. He said the nodule was contained and found at a very early stage, but doctors advised removal. His schedule has been cleared until 20 October.
Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo said he had an audience with the Pope on Monday and that the pontiff felt nothing wrong physically. He said the Pope chose to have surgery soon because he is due to travel to Latin America in early November, including a visit to Peru.
Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, told journalists he was worried and called the news a bolt from the blue, but said the cardinals were struck by the Pope's serenity. Outside the hospital, Catholics waited and prayed, with one telling the BBC they were calm because he seemed calm.
