By OSV News
ROME (OSV News) — Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer following a 90-minute surgery on Oct. 13 during which surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung. Dr. Stefano Margaritora, chief thoracic surgeon at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, led a medical team in the video-assisted technique operation.
In a joint statement with Dr. Luigi Carbone released just before 10 p.m. Rome time Oct. 13, the doctors said that the “examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the preoperative tests.”
“The Holy Father was in the operating room for about three hours; the surgery itself lasted approximately 90 minutes,” the statement said. “After the surgery, the pope woke up as expected and, following a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the 10th floor.”
The pope underwent the surgery in the late afternoon Oct. 13 after being admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital at 1 p.m. Rome time. Pope Leo was expected to remain for one week of recovery in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, located atop Monte Mario, the highest hill in Rome. The Vatican has canceled all of the pope’s scheduled audiences through Oct. 20.