Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin.
The 71-year-old pontiff spent 90 minutes in surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. "The operation was successful and there were no complications," the Vatican stated. "After the operation, the Pope awoke normally and returned after a brief period of observation to his room."
The lump was detected during routine checks. The Vatican said the entire lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed "to ensure the procedure was radical." A Vatican source told Agence France-Presse that further tests were being conducted to determine whether the cancer had spread.
The Pope himself announced the operation Sunday from the balcony of St. Peter's Square after delivering the traditional Angelus blessing. He described the nodule as "contained" and found "at a very early stage," but said doctors had advised removal. The Vatican confirmed the tissue was pulmonary adenocarcinoma "as suspected by pre-operative tests."
The pontiff's schedule has been cleared until October 20 to allow recovery time. His medical team stressed he had no symptoms of infection or illness before the surgery. Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo said he had an audience with Pope Leo on Monday and the pontiff felt "nothing wrong" physically.
The Pope chose to proceed with surgery soon because he is scheduled to travel to Latin America in early November, with plans to visit Peru, where he served as a missionary and bishop for years.
The news drew crowds to Gemelli Hospital, where Catholics gathered to offer support. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin told journalists Tuesday he was worried but noted the cardinals had been struck by the Pope's "serenity" and expressed confidence in his recovery. The Pope is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week.