Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer.
The diagnosis comes after Leo was admitted to hospital on Tuesday for surgery.
The 71-year-old underwent surgery on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
The Vatican described the operation as successful, before his lead surgeon and personal physician provided a more detailed update confirming that the pontiff has adenocarcinoma.
“The operation was successful and there were no complications,” the Vatican said. “After the operation, the Pope awoke normally and returned after a brief period of observation to his room.”
The pontiff had a “peaceful night” in the hospital, the Vatican said on Wednesday morning, where he is expected to remain for about a week.
The 90-minute surgery was conducted to remove a nodular lesion on his lung that was recently discovered during medical checks.
The pope had announced this week that a nodule was found at an early stage and was well localised. The American pope made the announcement during his Sunday noon blessing. He thanked the crowd for their closeness and entrusted himself to their prayers.
Earlier, large crowds waited for hours outside the hospital for the Pope.
They cheered greetings and well wishes as he passed, while he waved and smiled back through the lowered back window of his car.
He was then met by staff on the hospital steps. “I’m sorry,” one of them commiserated, to which the Pope gave a smile and a shrug. “We’re here for you,” he was assured.
In its statement, the Vatican said the whole lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung was removed “to ensure the procedure was radical”.
A Vatican source told the AFP news agency further tests were being carried out to see if there was any sign the cancer had spread.
The pope’s schedule has been cleared until October 20, to give him time to recover.
(Picture Courtesy: Reuters)
