In short
- Pope Leo XIV, 71, underwent a roughly 90-minute operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
- The Vatican said the operation was successful, that there were no complications and that the pope is expected to stay in hospital for about a week.
- The pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer usually found in the outer part of the lung.
- His schedule has been cleared until 20 October so he can recover ahead of a planned trip to Latin America in early November that includes Peru.
- Officials in Chiclayo, where he served as bishop for eight years, had expected 1.5 million people to travel there to see him.
Pope Leo XIV, 71, was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after a 90-minute operation on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican said. The Vatican described the surgery as successful with no complications and said the pontiff is expected to remain in hospital for about a week.
What did the Vatican say about the surgery?
In a medical bulletin, the Vatican said the whole lower lobe of the pope’s right lung was removed “to ensure the procedure was radical”. “The operation was successful and there were no complications,” it said. “After the operation, the Pope awoke normally and returned after a brief period of observation to his room.” The Vatican said on Wednesday morning that he had spent a “peaceful night” in hospital.
Who announced the operation?
Leo announced the operation himself during his weekly Sunday prayers in St Peter’s Square, telling the crowd that doctors had found a nodule on his lung. He said the lump was “well-contained” and caught “at an early stage”, but that his doctors had advised removing it. Nodules are common and not necessarily cancerous; after examination, the medical team confirmed it was cancer, “as suspected by pre-operative tests”, the Vatican said. A Vatican source told the news agency AFP that further tests were being carried out to see whether the cancer had spread.
How long will Pope Leo XIV stay in hospital?
The Vatican said the pope is expected to remain at Gemelli Hospital for about a week, and his schedule has been cleared until 20 October to allow him to recover. The Vatican has stressed that the pope, generally thought to be fit, had no symptoms of infection or illness. Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo, who had an audience with him on Monday, said he had detected “nothing wrong” physically.
Why is the Pope’s Latin America trip significant?
Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao said the pope decided to check in for surgery as soon as possible because he was keen not to delay a planned trip to Latin America in early November. The tour includes Peru, where Leo was a missionary and later a bishop and where he holds citizenship. Chiclayo, in northern Peru, where he served as bishop for eight years, is expected to be one of the most emotional stops. A day before the pope announced his surgery, officials in Chiclayo said they expected 1.5 million people to travel there to see him. Peru has also drawn regional attention this year for a district mayoral race.
How has the news been received?
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin told journalists on Tuesday: “Am I worried? Yes, because I certainly wasn’t expecting anything like this.” He said the news had been a “bolt from the blue”, but that cardinals had been struck by the pope’s “serenity” and were confident in his recovery. Elise Ann Allen, who wrote a biography of the pope, told the BBC it would be “premature to be alarmed, but it’s also premature to say everything’s fine”. The pope’s brother, Louis Prevost, has also emerged as being treated for multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
What is lung adenocarcinoma?
Adenocarcinomas develop in cells that produce mucus and are one of the most common types of lung cancer, usually found in the outer part of the organ. The long-term prognosis depends on factors including the stage at which the cancer is identified and the patient’s overall health; the earlier it is spotted, the better.
Frequently asked questions
What type of cancer does Pope Leo XIV have?
The Vatican said he was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a cancer that develops in mucus-producing cells and is usually found in the outer part of the lung, after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
How long did the Pope’s surgery last?
The operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital lasted about 90 minutes and removed the whole lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican said it was successful and that there were no complications.
Where will Pope Leo XIV travel in Latin America?
A trip planned for early November includes Peru, where he was a missionary and later a bishop and holds citizenship, with Chiclayo among the stops after he served there as bishop for eight years.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
