Pope Leo Diagnosed with Lung Cancer Following Surgery
Vatican confirms cancerous nodule removed during 90-minute procedure.
Pope Leo has been diagnosed with lung cancer, the Vatican announced following a surgery on Tuesday.
Doctors confirmed the diagnosis after removing a nodule from the Pontiff's right lung during a 90-minute operation. The surgery, described as a radical procedure using a video-assisted technique, successfully removed the lower lobe of the lung. Intraoperative histological examinations confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, consistent with pre-operative assessments.
The operation lasted approximately three hours, with the surgical procedure itself taking about 90 minutes. The Vatican stated that the operation was successful and proceeded without complications. Pope Leo regained consciousness normally after the surgery and returned to his room on the tenth floor after a brief observation period.
The surgical team was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, with assistance from Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr. Maria Teresa Congedo, and Dr. Leonardo Petracca Caravella. The anesthesia team included Professor Massimo Antonelli, Dr. Giovanni Punzo, and Dr. Giuseppe Bello.