Pope Leo XIV, 71, diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery to remove a lower lobe of his lung at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. The procedure was successful with no complications, according to Vatican officials.
The pope, who is expected to remain in hospital for about a week, has started walking and resumed a normal diet following the 90-minute operation. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of cancer, during the surgery.
The Vatican stated that the surgery was radical, with the entire lower lobe of the right lung removed to ensure all cancerous tissue was eliminated. The pope's health is stable, and he is recovering as expected.
The diagnosis has raised questions among Catholics about the future leadership of the Church, as the pope does not have a deputy. The Vatican has emphasized that the pope, generally considered fit, has no symptoms of illness or infection.