Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed with Lung Cancer After Surgery; Vatican Reports Successful Procedure
Pope Leo XIV, 71, has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma following surgery at Gemelli Hospital in Rome to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican announced the diagnosis after post-surgery analysis confirmed the cancer type. The procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes and was described as successful.
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Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery at Gemelli Hospital in Rome to remove a growth from his right lung, and post-operative analysis confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican announced. Doctors removed the lower lobe of the 71-year-old pontiff's right lung during a procedure that lasted about 90 minutes.
NPR's Scott Detrow reported that lung experts he consulted expressed optimism about the Pope's prognosis based on information provided in Vatican statements. Dr. Vin Gupta of the University of Washington said that the actions taken by doctors — specifically the surgical removal — suggest the cancer was caught at an early stage and that it does not appear to have spread. If that assessment holds, Gupta said, the diagnosis may not affect the Pope's lifespan.
The Pope is expected to remain hospitalized for several days following the procedure, and his public schedule has been cleared for at least one week. NPR reported that several of the Pope's friends, who have been in contact with him since the surgery, described him as responsive and in good spirits.