Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer; surgery successful

Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, confirming he has lung cancer, the Vatican announced. Tests revealed he had lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer with a favorable prognosis. The surgery, conducted at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, lasted about 90 minutes and had no complications, according to the Vatican.

The pope, who is 71 years old, remained hospitalized for three hours. Doctors removed the nodule and tested the remaining lymph nodes to determine if the cancer had spread. If the cancer has spread, further therapy options may be considered, such as chemotherapy, chemotherapy with immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. Pope Leo XIV, known for his transparency about his health, had previously revealed the discovery of a localized nodule during a Sunday prayer, stating he would have it removed.

His upcoming trip to South America next month may be affected by his recovery, as oncologists typically advise against flying for three weeks after surgery.