Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed with Lung Cancer Following Surgery

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after successful surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. According to a medical bulletin from the Vatican, tests confirmed a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, with preoperative tests indicating the presence of cancer that was confirmed during surgery. Pope Leo spent three hours in the operating room, with the surgery lasting approximately 90 minutes. The Vatican stated, "The surgery was successful, and there were no complications." The lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique, and intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The Vatican did not disclose the stage of the cancer or whether it had spread. Candida Moss, a professor of theology at the University of Birmingham, commented on the situation, stating, "The Vatican tends to keep these things under wraps, so there’ll be a lot of reading between the lines to try and detect what is the state of the pope’s health." She added that Pope Leo is expected to continue working as much as possible, referencing the tradition of previous popes, including Pope John Paul II, who remained active despite health challenges. According to NBC News, medical staff prayed the rosary as the operation commenced, led by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar of Rome, opened the prayer by saying, "Let us join together in prayer, asking the Lord to sustain our bishop, Pope Leo, and to comfort all those who are hospitalized here." Following the news, prayers and well-wishes were expressed globally.