Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. While Tokyo Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu had described the procedure as non-urgent, medical tests confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. The 71-year-old pontiff is expected to remain hospitalized for one week, with all public audiences canceled through October 20.
Surgeons Remove Lung Tissue
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon, led the 90-minute operation Tuesday afternoon to perform a radical resection
of the right lung’s lower lobe. The Pope remained in the operating room for about three hours as part of the procedure, according to the Holy See Press Office. His surgical team included Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr. Maria Teresa Congedo, and Dr. Leonardo Petracca Ciavarella, while the anesthesia team comprised Professor Massimo Antonelli, Dr. Giovanni Punzo, and Dr. Giuseppe Bello.
Jeanette and I are united in prayer for @PONTIFEX’s health following his recent diagnosis. May the Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy Father. https://t.co/KPVoGrnKUW
The Vatican reported the surgery concluded successfully, on schedule and as planned
with no complications.
The Pope returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor and requested dinner after regaining consciousness. Doctors removed and tested his lymph nodes to determine if the cancer had spread, though those results were not immediately available.
Diagnosis Following Routine Tests
Pope Leo first alerted the public to his condition during his Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 11, telling crowds in St. Peter’s Square that doctors had found a small nodule on his lung. The Vatican press office confirmed the growth was discovered during “routine tests.”
Pope Leo XIV announced this Sunday, October 11, that he will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a localized nodule in his lung, and he asked for our prayers.As he prepares for surgery, we can support the Holy Father through prayer, small sacrifices, and acts of… pic.twitter.com/ehGVnMWLst
According to the American Thoracic Society, a lung nodule typically measures less than half an inch in size; while the majority are not cancerous, they are investigated when they appear on CT scans. Tokyo Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu, who met with the Pope on Monday, stated that Leo chose to have the surgery immediately to avoid altering his travel schedule. There is no need to worry, as it is not an emergency,
Kikuchi wrote on the Tokyo archdiocese’s Facebook page. Dr. Barbara Moscatelli, a veteran Italian pulmonologist, noted that the thoracic surgery department at Gemelli is of an excellent standard
and the procedure is established for patients of the Pope’s age.
Global Leaders Offer Support
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the longtime secretary to St. John Paul II, remarked that the news had “shaken” him, while assuring the Pope of his prayers. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago issued a statement asking the faithful to join him in praying for the Pope’s swift and complete recovery.
Pope Leo Faces Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer in the United States, representing approximately 40% of cases. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, suggested that if the cancer is small and localized without lymph node involvement, the surgery could be curative.
The Vatican has cleared the Pope’s schedule through October 20. Pope Leo, who became the first U.S.-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church in May last year, is known for his physical activity, including regular tennis matches and horseback riding at the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo. The Pope’s family history includes cancer; his mother, Mildred, died of the disease in 1990 at age 77, and the Vatican recently confirmed that his older brother, Louis, is currently hospitalized in Florida with a form of cancer.
“These surgeries to remove the nodule are usually minimally invasive,” Fred Hutch's Dr. Matty Triplette told @CNN. “The outcomes are quite good, with a 5-year disease free survival of (more than) 80% for the earliest stages of non-small cell lung cancer.” https://t.co/AWK4gea8Y8
More on Pope Leo XIV
Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo…
Cancer is a devastating disease that touches the lives of far too many people. I am keeping Pope Leo XIV in my thoughts and prayers following his lung cancer diagnosis. I wish him strength and comfort as he recovers from surgery and pray for his continued healing.…
Prayers for the Holy Father Pope Leo @Pontifex as he undergoes surgery for a lung nodule. Pray it is benign. https://t.co/9KBgIgVIeI