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Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Successful Lung Cancer Surgery
15 Oct
Summary
- Pope Leo XIV had early-stage lung cancer discovered during a planned surgery.
- Doctors successfully removed the lower lobe of his right lung.
- The pontiff is awake, feeling good, and is expected to remain in hospital for a week.

Pope Leo XIV, aged 71, recently underwent a successful thoracic surgery for early-stage lung cancer. The diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma was confirmed during the procedure, which involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted technique. This cancerous nodule was initially detected during a recent checkup.
His brother, Louis Prevost, shared that the pontiff is in good spirits following the surgery, which was described as minimally invasive. The Pope is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately one week. This marks the first significant health challenge during his 17-month tenure as the head of the Catholic Church. Louis Prevost himself is undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma, adding to the family's health concerns.