On October 13, surgeons at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital removed the lower lobe of Pope Leo XIV’s right lung.
As the pope recovered, his older brother, Louis Prevost, disclosed that his multiple myeloma had returned after a period of remission. Prevost said on Newsmax that he was diagnosed in 2017 and is now taking part in a CAR T-cell clinical trial. He received new cells on Monday.
His wife, Deborah, told CBS News that he fell out of remission three months ago. Before that, treatment in 2019 involving a clinical trial and stem cell treatment had kept the cancer at a “very low level.”
Prevost said he had not spoken directly with the pope. After Tuesday’s operation, he received a positive report from someone he described as the pope’s right hand. The message said Leo was out of surgery and awake. He was feeling well and had no pain. Prevost added that, as far as he knew, Leo was in good hands.
He credited a positive attitude with helping him stay alive and relatively healthy. He said he believes the same outlook will help his brother.
On Wednesday, the Holy See Press Officer released an update from Dr Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, head of Thoracic Surgery at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital. Blood tests and a chest X-ray showed that recovery was progressing normally. The results were within the expected range for the procedure.
Leo had begun walking around his room. The Vatican said he had completed respiratory physiotherapy and resumed eating.
Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung using video-assisted surgery. The operation lasted approximately 90 minutes, while the pope spent about three hours in the operating room. An intraoperative examination confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, which doctors had suspected before surgery. The procedure was successful and had no complications. Leo woke in his usual condition and was transferred to a hospital room, according to the Vatican medical update.
Leo announced the lung problem on October 11 after the Angelus prayer. He described the finding as small and localized, and said it had been detected at a very early stage. On his doctors’ advice, he decided to undergo surgery. The Vatican projected a hospital stay of about one week, according to its report on the planned operation.
Doctors are waiting for further test results before deciding whether Leo needs additional treatment. The Vatican’s postoperative update did not announce chemotherapy. It also gave no word on radiotherapy or other follow-up treatment. Prevost said he had been told the mass was caught early enough for Leo to recover from surgery and continue his papal ministry.
