Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Successful Cancer Surgery, Vatican Confirms Lung Adenocarcinoma
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 6 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Pope Leo XIV, 71, underwent surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday, October 13, to remove a lung nodule that was confirmed as lung adenocarcinoma. The 90-minute minimally invasive procedure removed the right lower lobe of his lung without complications, and he woke normally. By Wednesday, he had resumed normal eating and walking in his room, with preliminary tests showing satisfactory recovery. The Vatican has cancelled all his public activities until next Tuesday, October 20.
Key Points
- Pope Leo XIV, aged 71, arrived at Gemelli Hospital on the afternoon of October 13, where he underwent imaging-assisted minimally invasive surgery lasting approximately 90 minutes
- Intraoperative rapid tissue analysis confirmed the removed nodule was lung adenocarcinoma; the right lower lobe was excised to remove all cancerous tissue
- The Pope resumed normal eating on Wednesday, having breakfast and lunch, and was able to walk in his hospital room while undergoing respiratory physical therapy
- Preliminary blood tests and chest X-ray examinations showed normal postoperative recovery; the removed tissue will undergo further testing to determine cancer staging
- Vatican officials stated the planned South America visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru remains unchanged, though Peruvian President Fujimori Keiko indicated dates may require adjustment
Why It Matters
Pope Leo XIV's diagnosis and surgery highlight the serious health challenges facing the Catholic Church's leader at a time when he was scheduled to undertake a significant international visit to South America. The Vatican has demonstrated transparency about the Pope's medical condition, releasing timely updates that have reassured the faithful worldwide. As the Pope recovers, the global Catholic community watches closely while the medical team determines whether additional treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy will be necessary based on the final pathology report .
Pope Leo XIV's diagnosis and surgery highlight the serious health challenges facing the Catholic Church's leader at a time when he was scheduled to undertake a significant international visit to South America. The Vatican has demonstrated transparency about the Pope's medical condition, releasing timely updates that have reassured the faithful worldwide. As the Pope recovers, the global Catholic community watches closely while the medical team determines whether additional treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy will be necessary based on the final pathology report .