Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican has said.
Tests carried out during the operation confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a diagnosis which had been suspected following pre-operative examinations. The 71-year-old pontiff was in the operating theatre for about three hours, with the surgery itself lasting approximately 90 minutes.
The Vatican said the procedure was successful and there were no complications. “To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique,” it said.
“Intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as suspected from pre-operative tests,” the statement added.
Leo regained consciousness normally after the operation and was taken back to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor. He had walked into the hospital through the main entrance earlier on Tuesday and waved to dozens of well-wishers gathered outside.
The operation was carried out by a team led by Dr Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon.
