Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung surgery to remove cancerous growth
The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV had a cancerous growth removed from his right lung during a 90-minute operation on Tuesday and woke up normally. To make the procedure radical, surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung. A Vatican source said additional tests are underway to determine whether the cancer has spread.
The Vatican reported that Pope Leo XIV underwent a 90-minute procedure on Tuesday to remove a cancerous growth from his right lung. According to the Holy See, he regained consciousness in the usual way after surgery.
To make the operation thorough, surgeons also took out the lower lobe of that lung, the Vatican said. A Vatican source added that more testing is ongoing to establish whether the disease has spread. The news was reported from Rome by France 24's Seema Gupta.
The pope's surgery may draw concern from Catholics worldwide, who could follow Vatican updates closely and offer prayers. It may also focus attention on how the Holy See communicates about papal health and continuity of church leadership. Depending on further test results, the episode could shape public discussion about the pope's workload and the Vatican's plans in coming weeks.