Breaking: Surgery confirms Pope Leo has lung cancer

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery for lung cancer, Vatican confirms

The full report

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer, the Vatican has confirmed. The 71-year-old underwent surgery on Tuesday to remove a lower lobe of his right lung, which was found to be cancerous. The Vatican said the diagnosis had been suspected by preoperative tests and was confirmed during surgery.

The surgery was performed at Rome's prestigious Gemelli hospital, where a large crowd gathered to greet the Pope. The Vatican said the whole lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed 'to ensure the procedure was radical'. The operation lasted approximately 90 minutes, and the Pope awoke normally after the procedure.

The Vatican has stated that the Pope's recovery is expected to take about a week. Further tests are being carried out to determine if the cancer had spread. The Vatican source cited by AFP news agency said that the cancerous nodule was caught early, giving the Pope an excellent prognosis.

Pope Leo XIV had disclosed the health issue to thousands of worshippers at a prayer service on Sunday, making a marked shift in the level of transparency about his health compared to his predecessors. The Vatican has often been accused of making confusing or extremely vague statements about popes' health.

The Pope's schedule has been cleared until 20 October to give him time to recover. He is still likely to take a planned trip to South America in November. The Vatican said that the Pope had 'now returned to his room' following the operation, and all of his appointments have been cancelled until 20 October.