Vatican confirms Pope has lung adenocarcinoma, but surgery was successful

The Vatican said in a medical announcement that Roman Catholic Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer but had successfully undergone surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.

The 71-year-old Pope underwent a 90-minute operation at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Tuesday (October 13) and was subsequently diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma.

The Vatican said: "The operation was successful and there were no complications." The statement added: "The Pope woke up normally after the operation and returned to the room after a brief observation."

The Vatican said the mass was first discovered during a "routine examination." The pope is expected to stay in the hospital for about a week.

Earlier, a large number of people waited for the Pope outside the hospital for several hours.

People cheered and offered him greetings and well wishes as he passed by, and he waved and smiled through his rolled-down car windows.

He later met staff on the hospital steps. "I'm sorry," one of the staff expressed condolences, and the pope smiled and shrugged. "We are at your service," they assured him.

The Vatican said in a statement that the entire lower lobe of the pope's right lung was removed to "ensure thoroughness of the operation."

A Vatican source told AFP the pope was conducting further tests to determine whether the cancer had spread.

Pope Leo XIV personally announced to the world on Sunday (11th) that he had undergone surgery. He spoke from a balcony in St. Peter's Square after leading the traditional Annunciation prayer service.

He said the nodule, or mass, on his lung was "localized" and was discovered at a "very early stage" but doctors advised him to have it removed.

The thoracic surgery team at Jemery Hospital performed the surgery on the pope, whose schedule has been canceled until October 20 to give him time to recover.

Nodules are common and not necessarily malignant, but after examination, the medical team confirmed that they were lung adenocarcinoma (pulmonary adenocarcinoma). "As suspected in preoperative examinations," the Vatican said.

The Vatican stressed that the Pope is generally considered to be in good health and has no symptoms of infection or disease.

Card Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao, Archbishop of Tokyo, posted on social media that he met with the Pope on Monday (12th) and said that the Pope "does not feel any physical discomfort."

He said the pope decided to undergo surgery as soon as possible because he planned to travel to Latin America in early November and was very keen to stick to the plan.

The trip is significant because it will include Peru, where the pope served as a missionary and bishop for many years.

Despite assurances from all parties, the news shocked Catholics around the world.

"Am I worried? Yes, because I definitely didn't expect something like this to happen," Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told reporters on Tuesday.

He admitted the news was a "bolt from the blue" but said cardinals were shocked by the pope's "calmness" and were confident of his recovery.

Jemery Hospital has treated many popes, and there is also a large statue of Pope John Paul II in the hospital. After the pope was hospitalized, some Catholics remained there.

Carla came specifically to be close to her.

"He seemed calm, so we were calm too - although being sick is always unpleasant," she told the BBC. "We will be here waiting and praying."