(SE): Pope Leo XIV has successfully undergone thoracic surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung. “To ensure a radical resection, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique,” the statement said.
Tissue examined during the operation confirmed the diagnosis suspected from tests conducted beforehand.
“An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from the preoperative examinations,” the doctors said.
The pope was in the operating room for approximately three hours, while the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes. The doctors said it was successful and there were no complications.
Pope Leo recovered well from anaesthesia and returned to his hospital room after a brief observation.
In the coming days, post-operation exams will be conducted on the removed tissue. The preoperative tests had already shown the doctors where and how to operate.
No change has been communicated regarding the previously announced hospitalisation time of one week.
On Wednesday morning, Rome time, the Holy See Press Office is expected to provide an update on how the Pope spent the night and any exam results that have come through.
After the operation, Pope Leo requested dinner and spent the evening with his secretaries and Vatican staff, demonstrating good spirits post-surgery, according to Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni.
