Pope Leo XIII underwent surgery to remove a mass from his lungs at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Tuesday. According to the Vatican, the procedure was successfully completed on schedule, and further details will be released in the future.
Surgery Details
The surgery, which lasted about seven hours, took place at the Gemelli Hospital, known as the primary treatment location for popes for decades. The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo's recovery period is estimated to be approximately one week. However, no information has yet been provided regarding tests conducted to determine the cancerous nature of the mass.
Transparency on the Pope's Health Issue
Pope Leo, 71, announced this health issue to thousands of worshippers during a prayer ceremony on Sunday. This action represents a significant change in the level of transparency regarding his health status compared to his predecessors. In the past, the Vatican has frequently faced criticism for vague or confusing statements regarding the health of popes.
Following this surgery, all of Pope Leo's engagements have been canceled until October 20. However, he is likely to participate in his scheduled trip to South America in November.
According to oncologists, this type of surgery is usually necessary to determine the cancerous nature of a mass. However, if this mass is cancerous, Leo's prognosis is very good as this issue has been identified at an early stage.
