Vatican confirms cancer diagnosis of Pope Leo XIV and reports on his condition

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The diagnosis was confirmed during surgery performed on October 13 at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome. According to the Vatican, the operation was successful and without complications.

This is stated in an official medical bulletin of the Holy See, published on the evening of October 13.

Doctors confirmed that the 71-year-old pontiff has adenocarcinoma of the lung — a malignant tumor that is one of the most common types of lung cancer. Suspicion of oncological disease arose during preoperative examinations, and histological examination performed directly during surgery confirmed the diagnosis.

According to the Vatican, to completely remove the detected tumor, surgeons removed the lower lobe of the right lung. The intervention was performed using video-assisted surgical technology.

The Pope was in the operating room for about three hours, of which the actual surgical intervention lasted about 90 minutes.

“The operation was successful, no complications occurred”, the medical statement signed by the head of the Vatican health service Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said.

After the operation, Leo XIV woke up normally from anesthesia and after a short period of observation returned to his room. According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, the pontiff was conscious, oriented in the situation and asked for dinner.

The surgical team was headed by Professor Stefano Margaritora, head of the thoracic surgery department of the Gemelli Hospital.

Recall that on October 11, during Sunday prayer, the Pope himself announced that during a routine medical examination, doctors discovered a small nodule in the lung.

At that time, the pontiff noted that the neoplasm was detected at an early stage and has a clear localization. On the recommendation of doctors, he agreed to surgical removal.

However, at the time of publication of the medical bulletin, the Vatican did not announce the final stage of the oncological disease and did not specify whether the Pope would need further treatment. In the coming days, doctors are to conduct postoperative examinations and additional study of the removed tissues.

According to preliminary medical forecasts, Leo XIV will remain in hospital for approximately a week. Due to hospitalization, all scheduled audiences of the Pope until October 20 inclusive are canceled.

The Vatican said that further information about the pontiff's health will be released as the results of medical examinations become available.

Based on materials from: Press Office of the Holy See, Vatican News