Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery as doctors confirm lung cancer
The Vatican says surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung, as Catholics gathered in Peru and Rome to pray and the pope began recovery.
Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer1. Surgeons at Rome's Gemelli Hospital removed the lower lobe of his right lung on Tuesday, the Vatican said, and confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma2. The National reports that the pope is 71 and that adenocarcinoma is a common form of lung cancer3.
“Everyone's praying”
In Chiclayo, Peru, where he once served as bishop, hundreds of faithful gathered at the Cathedral of St. Mary on Oct. 12 as Bishop Edinson Farfán celebrated Mass for his health, EWTN News reported. In Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, led a rosary at the hospital during the operation. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops asked Catholics to keep praying for the pope's recovery and "for the doctors and staff caring for him." Father Tom McCarthy, former provincial of the pope's Midwest Augustinian province, said, "Everyone's praying2."
- TuesdaySurgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung and doctors confirmed lung adenocarcinoma.
- Wednesday morningThe Vatican said the pope had “a peaceful night.”
- Oct. 12Hundreds gathered in Chiclayo for Mass for the pope's health.
- Oct. 20Audiences are canceled through this date.
- Nov. 6 to 17Planned tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Those prayers followed a detailed medical statement from Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope's personal physician, and Professor Stefano Margaritora, who led the surgical team. The doctors said the surgeons used a video-assisted technique "to ensure a radical procedure." A tissue examination during the operation confirmed what pre-operative tests had suspected. The pope woke normally and returned to his room on the tenth floor after a brief observation, and the statement reported no complications1. On Wednesday morning, the Vatican said he had "a peaceful night2."
According to the statement, the pope spent about three hours in the operating theatre, and the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes1.
Now the pope's calendar must wait on his recovery. EWTN News reported that recovery is expected to take "about one week." The pope is scheduled to tour Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17, and The National reported that it was unclear whether the trip would go ahead3. Uruguayan Cardinal Daniel Sturla said doctors might not allow travel on Nov. 6, but that the pope could come later: "If not now, it will be soon." Until then, all of the pope's audiences are canceled through Oct. 20, EWTN News reported2.
Sources
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