FreddyO fam, let’s pause the timeline for a moment and send up a very special prayer. The Vatican announced Tuesday evening, October 13, that Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome to remove a growth on his lung that doctors had found during a recent health checkup.
According to the Vatican’s medical bulletin, surgeons used video-assisted surgery to remove the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung. Tissue examined during the operation confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma — the most common type of lung cancer.
The procedure lasted about 90 minutes and was successful, with no complications. The Pope woke up normally and returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor — the floor long reserved for popes — and he even asked for dinner that same evening.
The Holy Father himself had shared the news with the faithful on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, telling the crowd about the nodule, explaining it was detected at a very early stage and was well-contained, and asking everyone for their prayers.
Vatican sources say the cancerous tissue was completely removed. More postoperative tests in the coming days will confirm whether anything spread, and doctors have not discussed chemotherapy. Because the cancer was caught early and stayed localized, medical experts say his prognosis is good.
The 71-year-old pontiff is expected to spend about a week in the hospital recovering, and all of his public events are canceled through October 20. A planned 11-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru is still scheduled to begin November 6.
Leo, the first American pope, was elected on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis — making this the first major health scare of his young papacy.
Right now, 1.4 billion Catholics around the world are holding him up in prayer. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said clergy everywhere are lifting the Holy Father up in prayer, and remarked on the serenity with which the Pope himself announced the procedure.
Here at FreddyO, we’re joining the faithful and sending prayers up for Pope Leo XIV — for a full and speedy recovery and many more years of service. Prayers up! 🙏
