Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in Church history, underwent surgery to remove a lung nodule diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma, according to the Vatican. The 71-year-old pope, who has been pope for 17 months, received treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after tests confirmed the cancer diagnosis.
The surgery, which lasted 90 minutes, was performed by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope's personal physician. The procedure involved removing the lower lobe of the right lung using a video-assisted technique to ensure all cancerous tissue was eliminated. No complications were reported during or after the surgery.
The Vatican has canceled all public audiences for Pope Leo XIV until October 20, following the surgery. The pope is expected to remain in hospital for about a week and will not travel on his planned 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru until further notice. The Vatican has not yet provided details on the cancer's stage or whether it has spread to lymph nodes.