Pope Leo had lobe of lung removed as doctors found cancer, Vatican says

Pope Leo shakes hands with a child as he meets members and volunteers of the Circolo San Pietro at the Vatican, October 12, 2026. Vatican Media/­Matteo Pernaselci/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

VATICAN CITY, ⁠Oct 13 (Reuters) - Pope Leo ⁠had a lower lobe of ‌his right lung removed during surgery on Tuesday and was diagnosed ​with lung adenocarcinoma, a ⁠common form ⁠of lung cancer, the Vatican said ⁠in ‌a medical bulletin.

Leo, 71, was admitted ⁠to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Tuesday ​for ‌surgery to remove a growth ⁠on ​his lung that doctors found in a recent health ⁠checkup.

Tuesday's surgery lasted about ​90 minutes and was successful with no complications, the Vatican ⁠said. The pope has woken up normally and is resting in his hospital room.

The ​Vatican said previously ⁠that the pope was expected ​to spend ‌a week in hospital ​recovering.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Crispian Balmer)