Vatican Says Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Cancer
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery on Tuesday in Rome that confirmed he has lung cancer, the Vatican said.
Doctor’s removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung after tests confirmed the diagnosis. A Vatican statement made no mention of treatment going forward. The Vatican, however, said doctors were not currently speaking of chemotherapy or other therapies.
The 71-year-old pope — the first American to be elected pontiff — was in the operating room at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for about three hours, the statement said. The surgery lasted about 90 minutes.
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“The surgery was successful, and there were no complications,” the statement added.
In its statement, the Vatican did not say what stage the cancer was in or whether it may have spread.
The pope first publicly disclosed the health issue this past Sunday, just 17 months into his papacy. As a result, the Vatican canceled all of Pope Leo’s audiences through Oct. 20.
The operation got underway as medical staff recited the rosary in the hospital chapel.
“Let us join together in prayer, asking the Lord to sustain our bishop, Pope Leo, and to comfort all those who are hospitalized here,” said Cardinal Baldassare Reina at the start of the prayer.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, speaking to reporters outside the hospital, said he spoke with Leo soon after the surgery.
“We hope, as he said, that we are right at the beginning of this difficulty and that the problem can therefore be resolved as soon as possible. We are confident,” Parolin said. “Naturally, we are all accompanying him with our prayers and affection.”
Parolin said he remains “concerned” about the pope’s health.
“I certainly did not expect something like this to happen,” he added.
There was no word on whether Leo would be able to keep his planned trip to South America next month that included stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
In a statement, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged “the faithful to continue praying for Pope Leo’s recovery and for the doctors and staff caring for him. We also hold in prayer all who are living with cancer, their families and those who care for them.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Catholic, said in a social media post that he and his wife were “united in prayer” for the pope.
“May the Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy Father,” Rubio wrote.
Clemente Lisi serves as executive editor at Religion Unplugged.