Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery for lung adenocarcinoma at Gemelli Hospital.

Pope Leo XIV spent his first night at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a lung nodule. The operation, lasting about 90 minutes and performed using a video-assisted technique, involved the lower lobe of the right lung. The official bulletin confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a malignant tumor, specifying that the surgery "was successful and there were no complications."

The hospitalization is expected to last seven days, after which the Pontiff is expected to return to the Vatican. Despite the surgery, the Holy See confirmed Leo XIV's intention not to cancel his already scheduled apostolic trip to Latin America, planned from November 6 to 17, provided doctors give their approval.

Pope Leo XIV is the current Pope of the Catholic Church, elected to the pontifical throne. Lung adenocarcinoma is a form of malignant tumor that originates from the glandular cells of the lungs. The news of his surgery emerged following a scheduled admission to the Policlinico Gemelli, a university hospital in Rome known as the go-to medical facility for the care of Popes, so much so that it is nicknamed "the Policlinico of the Popes."

The choice of this hospital is not coincidental: it represents a well-established tradition for Pontiffs in need of medical care. The surgery was performed using a video-assisted technique, a minimally invasive surgical method that uses a small camera and special instruments inserted through small incisions, generally associated with faster recovery times compared to traditional "open" surgery. The confirmation of the diagnosis and the announcement of the successful outcome of the operation came through an official medical bulletin, the institutional channel used by the Holy See to communicate information about the Pope's health. The intention to proceed with the trip to Latin America indicates the priority given to pastoral ministry, albeit subordinate to the doctors' opinion.