Vatican Gives Fresh Update On Pope Leo After Undergoing Lung Cancer Surgery
Pope Leo XIV is recovering in a Rome hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous lobe from his right lung. The Vatican reports that the procedure was successful and the pontiff is currently stable and beginning physical therapy.
Why it matters
As the leader of the Catholic Church, the health of the Pope has significant implications for global religious and diplomatic affairs.
The 71-year-old pontiff was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, on Tuesday after doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung during surgery.
Pope Leo spent a peaceful night in hospital after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, the Vatican said on Wednesday, adding that an update on his condition would be released later in the day.
He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after doctors discovered a growth during a recent routine health check.
The operation lasted about 90 minutes and was completed without complications, the pope’s lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said in a joint statement late on Tuesday.
The doctors said the entire lower lobe of the right lung was removed in an attempt to eliminate all cancerous tissue. Human lungs have five lobes, with three in the right lung and two in the left.
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