Archbishop Gallagher: Pope Leo XIV’s Illness Changed Catholics’ Perception

The diagnosis of lung cancer and the surgery undergone by Pope Leo XIV changed the way Catholics view his health and pontificate, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States within the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, said Tuesday at an event in Rome.

Pope Leo, 71, underwent surgery on October 13, when doctors removed part of one lung. According to them, the tumor was localized and had not spread, so the pontiff does not require additional treatment.

Gallagher said that the pope’s relatively young age and good physical condition had led some Catholics to regard him as a “Superman pope.” The illness showed, however, that he is “a poor mortal, just like all of us.”

The archbishop also said that the Vatican was not involved in negotiating the recent truce between Russia and Ukraine, although Pope Leo spoke with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Regarding the Vatican’s agreement with China on the appointment of bishops, Gallagher acknowledged that it had imperfections but reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the dialogue.