Pope Leo XIV has lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, after surgeons at Rome's Gemelli Hospital removed the lower lobe of his right lung on Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Vatican said. The procedure took about 90 minutes, and the 71-year-old pope spent about three hours in the operating room.
The Vatican said "the surgery was successful, and there were no complications," according to an Associated Press report published by PBS NewsHour. Cancer had been suspected from tests before the operation and was confirmed during it. The Vatican has not disclosed the cancer's stage, whether lymph nodes were involved or whether the pope will need more treatment.
