Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer, but the removal of the lower part of his right lung was successful. The Vatican reported this.
The 71-year-old pontiff was operated on at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, and the procedure lasted about 90 minutes. After surgery, he was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma.
According to the Vatican, the surgery passed without complications. The Pope woke up normally and returned to his room after a brief examination.
The statement also notes that the entire lower part of the right lung was removed to ensure the formation was fully extracted. He will remain in the hospital for about a week.
Additional tests are being conducted to determine whether there are signs of cancer spread.
Leo XIV himself had announced the formation on Sunday. It was first discovered during a routine medical examination. He had said that the nodule was found "at a very early stage," but doctors advised removing it.
Before that, a large crowd had gathered in front of the hospital. People greeted the Pope with applause and good wishes as he passed by them while entering the hospital.
What happened at Rome's Gemelli Hospital is first and foremost a medical story. But not only. Leo XIV has been on the throne for only a short time, and this health episode naturally raises questions about his upcoming plans, while the Vatican has not yet announced what will happen with his agenda after leaving the hospital.
For the Church, this is a sensitive moment. The pontiff's health has always been not only a personal but also an institutional topic, and every such case immediately gives rise to gossip and speculation—often faster than official information.
The most important question, however, is the most unclear: what will the additional tests show? Until then, any talk about the true severity of the illness remains speculation. Meanwhile, the doctors' word is clear: the formation has been removed, and the Pope is recovering.
