Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with cancer, undergoes successful lung surgery

Pope Leo has been diagnosed with lung cancer. The Vatican confirmed the diagnosis Tuesday after surgeons removed part of his right lung. And the good news this morning, the operation was successful with no complications. The 71-year-old pontiff walked into Rome's Gemelli Hospital Tuesday, waving to well-wishers outside. He spent about three hours in the operating room, with the surgery itself lasting roughly 90 minutes. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung after tests raised concerns about a cancerous growth. The Vatican says the procedure confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer. Surgeons use a video-assisted technique to remove the affected part of his lung. The Vatican says Leo regained consciousness normally and returned to his hospital room. Leo had told the crowd in St. Peter's Square on Sunday that doctors found a small nodule during routine tests. He said it was caught very early and appeared to be well-contained. His public events have been canceled through October 20. The Vatican expects him to need about a week to recover. For now, the Pope remains in the hospital, and his day-to-day Vatican operations will continue.