Pope Leo XIV has reportedly been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer, after surgery to remove a nodule from his right lung at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
The 71-year-old pontiff is not known to have smoked. The operation was performed by Dr Stefano Margaritora, the hospital’s chief thoracic surgeon. Before surgery, medical staff gathered in the hospital chapel to pray the rosary.
“Let us join together in prayer, asking the Lord to sustain our bishop, Pope Leo, and to comfort all those who are hospitalized here,” Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar of Rome, said.
The Vatican said the procedure was completed “successfully, on schedule and as planned,” and that the pope had returned to his room.
Leo said doctors found a small, localised lung nodule during routine medical checks and that he would have it removed.
