Pope Leo XIV is recovering as expected after undergoing surgery on Wednesday to remove part of his right lung after doctors detected a suspicious growth that was confirmed to be cancerous. The removed tissue was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in specialized glandular cells.
“The results confirm a normal post-operative course: the values are within the expected range for the type of procedure performed,” the Vatican said.
The pope’s first night in the hospital passed peacefully, with doctors conducting blood tests and a chest X-ray as scheduled. He also began respiratory therapy, walked around his hospital room, and ate. The pope is expected to remain in the hospital for a week.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called on Catholics to pray for the pope and to remember that “God is with us and God has a plan,” urging them “just not to lose hope, not to doubt God’s providence and his plan.”
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