VATICAN CITY, Oct 14 – Pope Leo XIV underwent successful thoracic surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday, with doctors confirming lung adenocarcinoma and removing the lower lobe of his right lung.

📻 Breaking It Down

Lung adenocarcinoma is a type of lung cancer that develops in glandular cells, which produce substances such as mucus. It is the most common type of lung cancer and falls under a group known as non-small cell lung cancer.

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the operation was performed as planned by a surgical team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora.

“To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique,” the statement said.

📌 What You Need to Know

The doctors said an examination of tissue during the operation confirmed the diagnosis suspected from preoperative tests.

“An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the preoperative examinations,” the medical team said.

The Pope spent approximately three hours in the operating room, with the procedure itself lasting about 90 minutes. The operation was successful, with no complications reported.

Following surgery, Pope Leo awoke normally and, after a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor.

The Pope asked for dinner after the operation and spent the evening with his secretaries and other Vatican staff, according to Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office.

The Vatican said the surgical team was led by Professor Margaritora, assisted by Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr Maria Teresa Congedo and Dr Leonardo Petracca Ciavarella.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya