Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery due to lung cancer

The Vatican has officially confirmed that Pope Leo XIV, 71, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The pontiff underwent successful surgery, during which specialists removed the lower lobe of his right lung.

The surgical procedure took place on October 13 at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome and lasted about an hour and a half. According to the results of a histological examination, the head of the Roman Catholic Church was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, doctors assess the Pope’s condition as stable: the pontiff has already begun to move around on his own and has resumed eating.

The medical team notes that the patient’s recovery is proceeding according to schedule. In addition to standard postoperative procedures, Leo XIV is undergoing a course of respiratory physical therapy. The pontiff is expected to remain at the medical facility for about a week. Additional tests are currently underway to rule out the spread of metastases, but no official data on their results has been released yet.