Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer after successful surgery

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing surgery in Rome on Tuesday to remove a growth from his lung, according to statements from the Vatican covered by the Irish Examiner, CBS News, The Guardian, and thejournal.ie. The Vatican confirmed that doctors removed the lower lobe of the 71-year-old pontiff's right lung at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic. [1][2][3][4]

Medical bulletins released by the Vatican confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Irish Examiner, CBS News, and The Guardian reported. The Vatican stated that preoperative tests had suspected the diagnosis, which was confirmed during the operation. Fox News earlier reported that doctors had identified the growth at a very early stage. [1][2][3][5]

The Irish Examiner, CBS News, and The Guardian stated that the pontiff spent approximately three hours in the operating theatre. CBS News and thejournal.ie noted that the surgical procedure itself lasted about 90 minutes. According to the Guardian and thejournal.ie, the Vatican said the operation proceeded as planned without complications, and a spokesperson confirmed that the pope woke up normally and returned to his room on the tenth floor of the hospital. [1][2][3][4]

Pope Leo XIV is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the pope is 71 years old and announced his upcoming operation to worshippers during a Sunday prayer service. Public events and papal audiences have been cancelled until at least 20 October while he recovers. [12][13][14]