Pope Leo XIV, the 71-year-old U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church, underwent surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung, according to the Vatican. The procedure, which lasted 90 minutes, was successful and confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
The operation, performed at Rome's Gemelli hospital, involved the removal of the lower lobe of Leo's right lung. Doctors reported that the pope is recovering well, with no complications, and is expected to stay in the hospital for about a week. All public events have been canceled until October 20.
The Vatican confirmed that the cancer was detected early and localized, which is critical for prognosis. The pope's health has been a subject of concern following his recent trip to France, where he reportedly seemed unwell. The Church is now in a state of uncertainty about Leo's continued leadership and upcoming travel plans.
The pope's health issues may influence his schedule and decisions within the Vatican. The Vatican has not yet announced changes to his planned November trip to South America, where he will visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.