Vatican confirms Pope Leo had a 'peaceful night' in hospital after cancer surgery | BBC News

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV had a ‘peaceful night’ in hospital after surgery to remove a lower lobe of his right lung on Tuesday.

The pontiff is expected to remain in Rome's Gemelli Hospital for about a week before returning to work.

The 71-year-old underwent a 90-minute surgery on Tuesday and was subsequently diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.

Leo had announced his surgery to a crowd in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, telling them doctors had found a nodule on his lung.

Although nodules are quite common and often benign, the Vatican said that a pre-operative examination of Pope Leo’s suggested it to be cancerous.

Cardinal Kikuchi Tarcisio Isao of Tokyo said he met with Leo on Monday and that Leo explained he felt physically fine, and had opted for the surgery as soon as possible so as not to delay a planned trip to Latin America in early November.

The trip is particularly significant because it includes a visit to Peru, where he was a missionary and then a Bishop for many years.

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