Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer as growth removed during surgery

Pope Leo has lung cancer, according to the Guardian the Vatican said.

Leo, 71, underwent an operation and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed, with tests confirming a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin, which followed an earlier statement saying the pope’s operation had concluded “successfully, on schedule and as planned”.

The Vatican added that the diagnosis had been suspected by preoperative tests and was confirmed during surgery.

Leo was in the operating theatre for about three hours and the operation itself lasted approximately 90 minutes.

In a rare moment of Vatican transparency, Leo said during his angelus prayer on Sunday that doctors had found a small nodule on his lung during a checkup, adding: “The doctors believe it would be right to intervene and so, following their advice, I have decided to have the operation to remove it.”

All of his appointments have been cancelled until 20 October.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio, a practicing Catholic who has met with the pope, said he and his wife were “united in prayers” for Leo following the diagnosis. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese also wished him a quick recovery, saying he was “a voice for peace, humanity and reason in our modern world.”