BREAKING: POPE LEO XIV UNDERGOES LUNG SURGERY AFTER CANCER DIAGNOSIS

Pope Leo XIV has undergone surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung after an examination during the operation confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, according to the Holy See Press Office.

The surgery followed the Pope’s earlier announcement that doctors had discovered a “small, localised nodule” in his lung at an early stage, prompting medical advice for its removal.

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square after his customary Sunday prayer, the 71-year-old pontiff said the abnormality had been detected early and was well localised.

“The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it,” he said.

According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the operation took place on Tuesday afternoon as planned. Doctors used a video-assisted technique to remove the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung.

“An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the preoperative examinations,” the medical team said.

The Pope spent approximately three hours in the operating room, while the surgery itself lasted about 90 minutes. The procedure was declared successful, with no complications reported.

Following the operation, Pope Leo awoke normally and returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor after a brief period of observation.

The surgical team was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, assisted by Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr Maria Teresa Congedo and Dr Leonardo Petracca Ciavarella. The anaesthesia team comprised Professor Massimo Antonelli, Dr Giovanni Punzo and Dr Giuseppe Bello.

Doctors are expected to conduct further examinations on the removed tissue in the coming days, while preoperative tests had already helped determine the location of the affected area and the appropriate surgical approach.

The Vatican has not announced any changes to the previously communicated hospitalisation period of one week. The Holy See Press Office is expected to provide further updates on the Pope’s recovery and examination results.

According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, Pope Leo requested dinner after the operation and spent the evening with his secretaries and other Vatican staff.

A lung nodule is a small abnormal area that may be detected during imaging scans. Although many lung nodules are non-cancerous and can result from previous infections or scar tissue, the Pope’s surgical examination confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer.

Before the surgery, the Vatican had indicated that the Pope would remain in hospital for approximately a week. The development has raised questions about his upcoming engagements, including a planned tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru at the beginning of November.

The proposed trip was expected to involve about a dozen flights over 11 days. During his Sunday appearance in St Peter’s Square, the Pope thanked a group of Peruvians for their prayers and referred to the planned pastoral visit.

Despite the health concerns, Pope Leo has generally maintained an active routine, reportedly playing tennis and swimming during weekly visits to the papal retreat outside Rome.

His predecessor, Pope Francis, experienced repeated health challenges, including bronchitis and pneumonia, which led to several hospital admissions and affected his public appearances in the final years of his life.

Pope Leo’s announcement of the lung nodule had marked the first major public health concern of his tenure as head of the Catholic Church. The subsequent confirmation of lung adenocarcinoma following surgery has made his recovery and future schedule matters of heightened interest.