In short
- Pope Leo XIV, 71, was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after a 90-minute operation on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
- The Vatican said the whole lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung was removed “to ensure the procedure was radical”, and that there were no complications.
- The Vatican said the growth was first detected during “routine checks” and confirmed as pulmonary adenocarcinoma after examination.
- The Pope’s schedule has been cleared until 20 October and he is expected to remain in hospital for about a week.
- Pope Leo XIV is due to travel to Latin America in early November, including a visit to Peru, where he was a missionary and later a bishop.
Pope Leo XIV, 71, has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after a 90-minute operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, the Vatican said. The Vatican described the surgery as successful and without complications, and said the pontiff is expected to remain in hospital for about a week.
What did the Vatican say about the surgery?
The Vatican said the whole lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung was removed “to ensure the procedure was radical”. In its medical bulletin, the Vatican said: “The operation was successful and there were no complications.” It added that Pope Leo XIV woke normally and returned to his room after a brief period of observation, and said on Wednesday morning that he had spent a “peaceful night” in the hospital. The procedure followed the Vatican’s earlier announcement that the Pope would have lung surgery within days.
How was the cancer found?
Gemelli Hospital’s thoracic surgery team carried out the operation. The Vatican said the growth was first detected during what it called “routine checks”, and that examination confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma “as suspected by pre-operative tests”. Pope Leo XIV announced the operation himself on Sunday from the balcony in St Peter’s Square, after delivering the traditional Angelus blessing, saying the nodule on his lung was “contained” and had been found “at a very early stage”, and that doctors had advised him to have it removed. The Vatican said the pontiff had no symptoms of infection or illness. Nodules are common and not necessarily cancerous. The diagnosis comes amid other health disclosures by public figures: BBC presenter Maryam Moshiri has revealed she has incurable blood cancer.
What happens next for the Pope?
A Vatican source told the Agence France-Presse news agency that further tests were being carried out to see whether there was any sign the cancer had spread. The Pope’s schedule has been cleared until 20 October to give him time to recover. Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo wrote on social media that he had had an audience with Pope Leo XIV on Monday and that the pontiff felt “nothing wrong” physically. The cardinal said the Pope had decided to have surgery as soon as possible because he is due to travel to Latin America in early November and wanted to keep to that plan. The trip includes a visit to Peru, where the pontiff was a missionary and then a bishop for many years.
How have Catholics reacted?
Large crowds waited for hours outside Gemelli Hospital, cheering as the Pope passed, waving and smiling through the lowered back window of his car. On the hospital steps, a staff member told him “I’m sorry”, to which he smiled and shrugged, and was assured: “We’re here for you.” Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin told journalists he was worried, saying: “I certainly wasn’t expecting anything like this.” He described the news as a “bolt from the blue” but said the cardinals had been struck by the Pope’s “serenity” and were confident in his recovery. Outside the hospital, a woman named Carla told the BBC: “He seems calm, so we are calm too.”
Frequently asked questions
What type of cancer does Pope Leo XIV have?
The Vatican said the Pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after examination of the tissue removed during surgery, as suspected by pre-operative tests.
How long will Pope Leo XIV stay in hospital?
The Vatican said he is expected to remain at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for about a week, and his schedule has been cleared until 20 October.
Who announced the Pope’s surgery?
Pope Leo XIV announced it himself on Sunday from the balcony in St Peter’s Square after the traditional Angelus blessing, saying the nodule was “contained” and found at a very early stage.
Will Pope Leo XIV still travel to Latin America?
Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo said the Pope decided to have surgery as soon as possible because he is due to travel to Latin America in early November, including Peru, and wanted to keep to that plan.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)