Pope Leo XIV Undergoes Successful Lung Surgery, Vatican Reports

Pope Leo XIV has undergone surgery to remove a nodule from his lung and is currently recovering. The surgery, which took place on Tuesday, involved the removal of the lower lobe of the pope's right lung and was reported to be successful. The Vatican confirmed that the nodule was cancerous, specifically lung adenocarcinoma, and that the diagnosis had been suspected prior to the operation. The procedure was performed at Rome's Gemelli hospital and lasted approximately three hours. Following the surgery, the Vatican stated that the pope 'woke up normally' and is expected to recover within a week. Oncologists have indicated that the prognosis is excellent due to the early detection of the cancerous nodule. Further tests are being conducted to assess whether the cancer has spread. Pope Leo, 71, disclosed his health issue to worshippers during a prayer service on Sunday, marking a shift towards greater transparency regarding the health of the pontiff compared to previous leaders. All of the pope's engagements have been canceled through October 20, but he is still expected to proceed with a planned trip to South America in November.