It has been announced that the surgery performed on Pope Leo XIV, leader of the Catholic Church and Head of State of the Vatican, due to a mass detected in his lung, was successfully completed. The Vatican Press Office reported that the operation concluded as planned and that the 71-year-old Pope has returned to his hospital room.
Pope Leo XIV went to Gemelli Hospital in Rome for the surgery. While a large number of press members were waiting around the hospital, it was reported that the Pope entered the building on foot. In its initial briefing, the Vatican had announced that the operation would be performed by a thoracic surgery team led by Prof. Stefano Margaritora.
The surgery was completed successfully, as planned and as expected. The Pope has returned to his hospital room.
HIS SCHEDULE HAD BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL OCTOBER 20
The Vatican had previously announced that all of the Pope's scheduled programs until October 20 had been cancelled for his recovery process. Speaking to journalists before the operation, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin also said that he had met with the Pope and found him calm.
Parolin stated that he was worried due to the unexpected development but noted that the early detection of the mass was important, assessing that, "Normally, such things can be resolved well when detected early."
Pope Leo XIV shared his health status with the public during his traditional Sunday prayer on October 11 from the window of his office overlooking St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. The Pope stated that doctors had detected a mass, or nodule, in his lung, and that he had decided to undergo surgery to have the nodule removed after it was deemed appropriate.
In the same speech, the Pope said that the operation was planned to take place within a few days and requested prayers, saying, "I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers." The Italian press pointed out that it was a first in history for a pope to announce an upcoming surgery with such openness during a Sunday prayer.
According to reports in the press, the Pope's decision to undergo surgery quickly was made in order not to cancel his South America visit, which is expected to cover Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6-17.
Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope at the Conclave held in the Vatican on May 8, 2025, and took the name "Pope Leo XIV".
News Source: 12punto
