Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery for a malignant lung tumour, an adenocarcinoma confirmed by histological examination carried out during the operation. Doctors removed the lower lobe of the right lung using a video-assisted technique.
The nodule was at an early stage and well-circumscribed. According to medical staff, all of the diseased tissue was successfully removed.
Details were provided by Luigi Carbone, the Pope’s personal physician, and Stefano Margaritora, who led the surgical team. “The intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as had been suspected from the pre-operative tests.”
The pontiff remained in the operating theatre for about three hours, though the operation itself lasted approximately 90 minutes. “The surgery was successful and there were no complications,” the doctors reported.
The Vatican confirmed that Leo XIV had returned to his room following the procedure.
