What they say: “The operation was carried out successfully, on time and as planned, and the Holy Father returned to his room,” according to a statement from the Holy See Press Office published Tuesday.
- The office said in that statement that it would provide more information shortly, and then shared Leo’s diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the lung, which “preliminary testing” had led them to suspect.
Driving the news: The first American pontiff was admitted Tuesday afternoon to the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome for surgery.
- “The Pope stayed in the operating room for about three hours, while the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes. The doctors declared that it was successful and that there were no complications,” the statement said.
- The head of the Catholic Church carried out his usual duties on Monday and was greeted by supporters and patients at the hospital, according to the Vatican statement.
Zoom: Adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype of lung cancer, according to the Cancer Center.
- It forms when the cells lining the outside of the lungs become cancerous. Its symptoms include, among others, persistent cough, shortness of breath and chest pain.
- Patients with adenocarcinoma do not always have early symptoms, and they are often detected during an examination for a medical reason unrelated to lung cancer.
The big picture: Doctors discovered the nodule during routine medical exams.
- Leo said on Sunday that the nodule “was detected at a very early stage and is well localized.”
- He thanked his supporters for their “spiritual closeness” and said he trusted their prayers.
Go further: Pope Leo to remove lung ‘nodule’
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information about Leo’s diagnosis.
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