PM praises Pope Leo after cancer diagnosis

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery for lung cancer, with the Vatican confirming a successful operation and a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma.

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Pope Leo XIV has undergone surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his lung, with the Vatican confirming a successful operation and a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma.

The 71-year-old pontiff is recovering in Rome's Gemelli hospital after the 90-minute procedure, which was described as 'successful, and there were no complications'.

The Vatican revealed the diagnosis on Wednesday, stating that preoperative tests had confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma.

Pope Leo XIV has been praised by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who wished the pontiff a 'quick recovery' and described him as 'a voice for peace, humanity and reason in our modern world'.

The pope's recovery is expected to last for a week, with all his audiences through October 20 cancelled. The Vatican has not provided details on the recovery outlook or course of treatment, but stated that doctors are not currently discussing chemotherapy or other therapies pending the results of other tests.

Pope Leo XIV has no reported history of serious illness and is considered physically active, routinely swimming and playing tennis. The surgery comes ahead of an official Latin America tour scheduled for November 6-17, with stops planned across Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.