Growth removed from Pope Leo’s lung was cancerous
Pope Leo XIV underwent a successful 90-minute surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his right lung. The Vatican confirmed the procedure was curative and the Pope is currently recovering in a Rome hospital.
Why it matters
The health of the head of the Catholic Church is a matter of significant global interest, particularly given the Pope's age and the nature of the diagnosis.
Doctors expect Leo’s recovery to take about a week. Photo / AFP
Doctors have removed part of Pope Leo XIV’s right lung during a 90-minute operation after finding a cancerous growth, the Vatican has said in a statement.
The pope “woke up normally” after the operation and is now back in his room on the 10th floor of Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the statement said.
A Vatican source added that the pope had asked for dinner.
“To ensure the procedure was radical, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed,” the Vatican said, adding that the operation “confirmed the diagnosis of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the pre-operative tests”.
“The Holy Father was in the operating room for about three hours, and the duration of the operation itself was around 90 minutes. The surgery was successful and there were no complications,” the statement said.
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