71-year-old Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer on Oct. 13 and underwent surgery that same day. It was found by chance during a routine medical test, and luckily it was in an early stage. According to CBS News, doctors noted that if the small nodular lesion had been located slightly higher, they would not have caught it on the scans. As the pope arrived at the hospital for surgery, he still stopped to greet supporters. He received widespread support and prayers worldwide.
The pope had Adenocarcinoma of the lung, which occurs when abnormal lung cells multiply and form a tumor. It is the most common type of lung cancer. Research shows that because it is often localized to one area, surgery and treatment are often more successful than for other forms of cancer, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Although the pope stated he has never smoked himself, CNN confirmed that his immediate family has a history of cancer.
The surgery was minimally invasive, removing the lower lobe of his right lung. He experienced no complications during the surgery. They used an advanced video-assisted technique called Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery, which places a minuscule camera into a small incision to enlarge the image for surgeons to use as the primary guide. This eliminates the need for open chest surgery.
On Wednesday, Oct. 21, doctors announced a successful treatment and that the pope will not need further treatment after his lung cancer surgery.
“The results have confirmed that the condition was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized,” Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Maragaritora told NBC News.
The pope was discharged on Saturday, Oct. 17, and a crowd gathered and cheered for him when he appeared again the next day.
“This experience has made me feel particularly close to all those who are experiencing illness and a condition of frailty,” the pope said. He plans to resume activities gradually and expressed gratitude for prayers and encouragement.
It is uncertain whether he will still travel to South America for a planned 12-day journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, as the long flights and high elevation will be physically demanding in the next two weeks. Still, Peru is special to the pope because he served as bishop of Chiclayo there. According to NBC News, he still holds Peruvian citizenship.
Throughout the whole event, the Vatican has been profoundly more open about the pope’s condition. Before surgery, he announced it calmly. The public appreciated his transparency, given the Vatican’s traditional secrecy about the pope’s health.