Pope's cancer operation already reshaping papacy
With Pope Leo XIV recovering in hospital on Thursday following his lung cancer operation, questions are swirling about how the illness could change his papacy, less than two years after his election. The 71-year-old leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics had a part of his lung removed on Tuesday and is undergoing further tests to determine if he is cancer-free or needs further treatment. In…
Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Gemelli Hospital in Rome following an operation on Tuesday to remove part of his lung. According to Al-Monitor, the 71-year-old pontiff is undergoing additional tests to determine if he is cancer-free or requires further treatment. The Chicago-born leader is expected to remain in the hospital for at least several days.
The Vatican announced the lung cancer diagnosis on Tuesday, according to Japan Times. This health development follows Leo’s election in May 2025, at which time he was 69 years old and appeared energetic with no known history of health issues. The Japan Times notes that the news brings the reality of a sick pope back to the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Japan Times — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
