Pope Leo XIV has been formally diagnosed with lung cancer following an operation to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, according to a medical bulletin released by the Vatican on Tuesday.
Tests confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that had been suspected during preoperative evaluations. The Holy See did not disclose specific details regarding the long-term prognosis or the intended course of treatment.
The procedure, which lasted approximately 90 minutes, was described as successful with no complications. The 71-year-old pontiff has returned to his room at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he is expected to spend a week recovering. All papal audiences scheduled through the end of October have been cancelled.
Vatican officials noted that the use of the term “radical” in the medical statement indicated that surgeons removed all suspicious tissue in an effort to eradicate any remaining traces of the disease. Currently, doctors are not discussing chemotherapy or other therapies while awaiting the results of additional tests.
The diagnosis comes just days after Pope Leo publicly revealed during his Sunday noon prayer in St. Peter’s Square that medical staff had identified a small nodule. “The doctors believe it’s best to take action, so, following their advice, I’ve decided to have surgery to remove it,” he stated.
The Pope is known for maintaining an active lifestyle and has no reported history of serious illness. The upcoming health challenges arise ahead of a major Latin American tour scheduled for November 6-17, which includes stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The itinerary involves significant physical demands, including a dozen flights, two helicopter rides, and altitude changes in Peru.
Despite the surgery, Pope Leo has indicated his intention to proceed with the trip. It remains unclear whether his recovery timeline will impact the ambitious schedule.
The Vatican is being very cautious with details. Hopefully, the doctors don’t rush his chemotherapy decisions.
Is it risky to fly at altitude while recovering from lung surgery? I hope they monitor him closely during the trip.
Thank goodness the surgery was successful. Fingers crossed for a full and speedy recovery at Gemelli.
I’m amazed he plans to keep the Latin America trip. That itinerary sounds exhausting even for a healthy person.