What the Vatican Has Said
"The operation was successful and there were no complications," the Vatican said. After the surgery, the Pope woke normally and returned to his room following a brief period of observation. The whole lower lobe of his right lung was removed "to ensure the procedure was radical," the statement added. He is expected to stay in hospital for about a week.
The lump was first spotted during what the Vatican has described as "routine checks." It turned out to be pulmonary adenocarcinoma, "as suspected by pre-operative tests," according to the bulletin. Nodules are fairly common and not always cancerous, but this one was confirmed as cancer after examination. A Vatican source said further tests are being carried out to check whether the cancer has spread. The Vatican also stressed that the pontiff, who is generally thought to be fit, showed no symptoms of infection or illness. His schedule has been cleared until 20 October so he can recover.
Leo XIV himself broke the news on Sunday, speaking from the balcony in St Peter's Square after the traditional Angelus blessing. He said the nodule was "contained" and had been found "at a very early stage," but that doctors had advised removing it.
A Warm Send-Off at the Hospital
Large crowds waited for hours outside Gemelli Hospital earlier in the day. They cheered and called out well wishes as the Pope arrived, and he waved and smiled back through the lowered rear window of his car. Staff met him on the hospital steps. "I'm sorry," one of them said, and the Pope answered with a smile and a shrug. "We're here for you," he was told.
Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo wrote on social media that he had an audience with the Pope on Monday, and that the pontiff felt "nothing wrong" physically. He said the Pope chose to go in for surgery as soon as possible because he is due to travel to Latin America in early November and wants to keep to that plan. The trip is especially meaningful because it includes Peru, where he served as a missionary and then a bishop for many years.
Shock and Prayers Among Catholics
Even with the reassurances, the news has shaken Catholics around the world. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin told journalists on Tuesday, "Am I worried? Yes, because I certainly wasn't expecting anything like this." He agreed it was like a "bolt from the blue," but said the cardinals were struck by the Pope's "serenity" and are confident he will recover.
Outside Gemelli, which has treated several popes and has a large statue of John Paul II, some Catholics stayed on after he was admitted. "He seems calm, so we are calm too, even though illness is always unpleasant," said Carla. "We will wait here and pray." Elsa, who was in St Peter's Square for the announcement, said she felt "really awful." She had assumed, when he was elected, that he was a younger, healthier pope. "It turns out he's vulnerable too," she added.
