In brief
Pope Leo XIV underwent a 90‑minute operation to remove a cancerous lower lobe of his lung, with the Vatican reporting a successful procedure. He has begun walking and has resumed a normal diet, according to doctors. Blood tests and imaging show recovery is proceeding normally, and he is undergoing respiratory physiotherapy. Experts expect him to remain in hospital for about a week while he recuperates.
Pope Leo XIV suffered a cancerous nodule on the lower lobe of his right lung, which doctors removed in a 90‑minute operation at Rome’s renowned Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday. The surgery was described by the Vatican as successful and “without complications.”
He has started walking again and has resumed a normal diet, the Vatican released a statement saying that the pontiff awoke normally after the procedure and spent a peaceful night at the hospital. Blood tests and an X‑ray performed early on Wednesday confirmed that his recovery is proceeding as expected.
The removed lobe was taken to ensure the operation was radical, the Vatican added, and the biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. The Pope’s doctors are now conducting further scans to check for any spread of the disease and are administering respiratory physiotherapy to aid his breathing.
He is expected to remain in Giammobilli Radiology and Therapy units for roughly a week while he convalesces. The news has stunned Catholics worldwide, many of whom recall Pope Francis’s own hospital visits. The Pope’s predecessor, who died last year, also had part of his lung removed at a young age before eventually succumbing to lung complications.
Early detection of lung nodules—often benign—is common, but when cancer is present, early surgical intervention can significantly improve survival rates. Experts stress that the case underscores the importance of routine imaging and prompt medical attention for respiratory abnormalities.
