Pope Leo XIV spent a “peaceful” night in the hospital after undergoing surgery

Pope Leo XIV, aged 71, was hospitalized on Tuesday after doctors discovered a pulmonary mass during a routine medical checkup. The Pontiff was diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.

The Pope underwent surgery that lasted approximately 90 minutes. Doctors Stefano Margaritora and Luigi Carbone announced that the operation ended without complications. The surgeons removed the entire lower lobe of the right lung to eliminate the cancerous tissue.

The Vatican did not specify the size of the tumor or whether the disease had spread to the lymph nodes, information that is important for determining the prognosis. The Pontiff is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week, and all public engagements have been canceled until October 20.

The procedure calls into question the international visit scheduled from November 6 to 17 in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The Vatican has not yet announced whether the trip will go ahead. Meanwhile, the service in St. Peter’s Square was led by Cardinal Luis Tagle, while international leaders sent the Pope messages of support and wishes for a speedy recovery.

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