Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed a part of his right lung yesterday, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin, marking a significant health setback for the 71-year-old pontiff.
The pope has lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of cancer, with tissue tests conducted during the operation confirming what doctors had suspected from preparatory examinations, the bulletin said.
Leo was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for surgery to remove the growth that doctors had discovered in a recent routine health check.
The pope’s lead surgeon, Dr Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, said in a statement that the procedure lasted about 90 minutes and was successful, with no complications.
“In order to make the procedure curative, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique,” they said, making clear that the aim was to eliminate all cancerous tissue.
Human lungs have five lobes – three in the right lung and two in the left.
A medical expert said that in order to assess the pope’s case they would need to know the size of the tumour and whether the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, information the Vatican did not immediately provide.
The pope regained consciousness normally after the operation and later returned to his hospital room, where he was resting, the medical bulletin said.
The Vatican said earlier this week that he was expected to remain in hospital for about a week and all his public events have been cancelled until Tuesday.
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