Pope Leo XIV Recovering After Lung Cancer Surgery, Vatican Says
Pope Leo XIV underwent a 90-minute operation at Rome's Policlinico A. Gemelli hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after a cancerous nodule was found. The Vatican says the 71-year-old pontiff had a peaceful night and prayers have been urged worldwide.
Pope Leo XIV is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung following the discovery of a cancerous nodule, the Vatican has confirmed. The 71-year-old pontiff was operated on at the Policlinico A. Gemelli hospital in Rome, where the procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes.
The surgery was carried out after doctors identified a cancerous nodule in the pope's right lung. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the lung during the operation, which took place on Tuesday. The Vatican later issued an update stating that the pontiff had spent a peaceful night following the surgery, offering a measure of reassurance about his immediate condition.
Before entering the hospital, Pope Leo was seen waving to onlookers as he arrived for treatment. The image of the pontiff acknowledging well-wishers before his operation underscored the public dimension of his illness and the widespread concern it has generated among Catholics and observers around the world.
News of the diagnosis and surgery has prompted calls for prayers from senior church figures. The Archbishop of Wales and England, Sarah Mullally, was among those urging the faithful to pray for the pope as he begins his recovery. The appeal reflects the global reach of the papacy and the significance attached to the health of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Policlinico A. Gemelli hospital in Rome has long been the preferred medical facility for recent popes, and its surgeons are experienced in treating senior clerics. The removal of a lung lobe is a significant procedure, particularly for a patient of the pope's age, and recovery typically requires careful monitoring in the days and weeks that follow.
The Vatican's decision to release details of the operation and the subsequent update on the pope's condition marks a continuation of the institution's recent practice of providing more transparent information about papal health matters. In previous decades, the Vatican often disclosed only limited details, but in this case it has confirmed both the diagnosis and the nature of the surgery.
Pope Leo XIV, who is 71, has been leading the Catholic Church at a time of considerable global challenge, and his absence from public duties during his hospital stay will be closely watched. The Vatican has not yet indicated how long his recovery is expected to take or when he might resume his normal schedule.
The diagnosis of cancer in the pope's lung has drawn attention to the broader issue of health among elderly world leaders and the protocols that surround their medical care. For the Catholic faithful, the focus remains on the pontiff's recovery and the prayers being offered on his behalf across continents.
The Vatican's updates have so far described the pope's night as peaceful, a detail that suggests no immediate complications following the surgery. Further bulletins are expected as his recovery progresses at the Gemelli hospital, where he remains under the care of medical staff.
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