Pope Leo XIV has successfully undergone surgery at the Gemelli Hospital overnight, with doctors removing the lower lobe of his right lung.
“To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique,” the Holy See Press Office said in a press statement, citing Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora.
“An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the preoperative examinations,” the doctors said.
Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer and accounts for roughly 40 to 45 per cent of all lung cancer cases.
The Pope was in the operating room for close to three hours, with the operation lasting 90 minutes. The doctors reported a successful operation with no complications.
Following the surgery, the Holy Father returned to his room, where he ate dinner and spent the evening in the company of his secretaries and other Vatican staff.
Post-operation exams are expected to be conducted on the removed tissue in the coming days.
He is still expected to remain in hospital for a week to recover and it’s expected the Holy See Press Office will deliver another update on Wednesday morning Rome time.
The Holy Father had announced this to the faithful gathered for his Angelus on Sunday that he would undergo surgery in the coming days.
“Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localised nodule in my lung,” he said on Sunday.
“It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localised. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers. Thank you, and happy Sunday!”
