The Pope undergoes surgery for lung cancer – THIS UPDATE

Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer after a laboratory test during surgery confirmed that a nodule in his lung was an adenocarcinoma, prompting surgeons to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.

The Vatican confirmed the diagnosis on Tuesday after the 71-year-old pontiff underwent thoracic surgery at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, in the first major public health challenge of his papacy.

According to a medical bulletin released by the Holy See Press Office, the intraoperative histological examination confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a diagnosis already suspected by doctors following the tests carried out before the operation.

“The intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the preoperative investigations,” explains the Vatican.

Doctors said the Pope spent about three hours in the operating room, although the surgery itself lasted about 90 minutes.

“The surgery was successful and there were no complications,” we read in the medical bulletin.

The surgery was performed by a thoracic surgery team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, and the Vatican identified Dr. Luigi Carbone and Margaritora among the doctors who provided the medical update.

According to the Vatican, surgeons removed the lower lobe of Pope Leo’s right lung as part of the procedure. The Pope subsequently returned to his hospital room to begin his recovery.

A previous press release from the Holy See Press Office, released shortly after the intervention, had announced that the intervention had been completed successfully and according to plan.

“The surgery was completed successfully, on time and as expected, and the Holy Father returned to his room,” the Vatican said.

The subsequent medical bulletin provided the most significant revelation that examination of the removed tissue had confirmed cancer.

Health concerns surrounding the pontiff emerged publicly on Sunday when Pope Leo announced that doctors had discovered a small nodule in his lung and recommended its surgical removal.

Prayers for the Pontiff

As the Pope underwent surgery, Catholics in Rome and other parts of the world prayed for his recovery.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, recited a rosary in the hospital’s St. John Paul II chapel, while parishes and religious communities across the diocese were invited to pray simultaneously for the pontiff.

“Together we raise our prayer that the Lord will support our bishop, Pope Leo, and bring comfort to all those who are hospitalized here,” said Reina.

Prayer initiatives have also been organized in Peru, the Philippines, in some parts of Africa and in the Pope’s hometown of Chicago.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, had previously spoken of the Pope’s calm attitude after publicly revealing the need for surgery.

Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, United States, Leo became the 267th Pope and the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church when he was elected after the death of Pope Francis.

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