Katholische Kirche: Ärzte: Papst Leo XIV. an Lungenkrebs erkrankt

Pope Leo XIV, who was 71 years old, has been diagnosed with lung cancer according to his treating physicians. The Gemelli Clinic in Rome announced this following an operation performed on the Pope. During the approximately one and a half hour procedure, the lower lobe of the right lung of the Catholic Church's head was removed. The subsequent examination confirmed that the tumor was a lung adenocarcinoma.

The suspicion was already present before the operation, which was confirmed. The operation went well and without complications, the doctors said. The Pope woke up as planned after the surgery and is now resting in his room. Leo disclosed the presence of the lung nodule himself, stating that it had been discovered during a routine check-up on Sunday in a "very early stage".

On the advice of the doctors, the Pope decided to undergo the operation, which took place only two days later. No health issues had been reported for the first American at the head of the Catholic Church before this. Despite being 71 years old, Pope Leo remains relatively young. He was elected Pope in May of the previous year, with it being speculated that he would have a long papacy, possibly several decades long.

The Pope is expected to spend about a week in the hospital for recovery. Initially, it was mentioned that Leo would need about a week to recover before the operation. At the Gemelli Hospital, also known as Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, located on the outskirts of Italy's capital, there is a dedicated ward for Popes on the tenth floor.

It was used to treat Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, who had been in the hospital for less than a week prior to his death at the age of 88. Pope Leo had previously lost a portion of his lung several years ago.