Pope Leo XIV’s Recent Surgery

On October 11th, doctors discovered a small nodule in Pope Leo XIV’s lungs during his routine medical checkup. Soon, they admitted him to Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, where he stayed in critical condition. Doctors confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a form of non-small cell lung cancer.

Soon after finding out the form of cancer, it became a 90-minute procedure to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The procedure was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora and Dr. Luigi Carbone. It went smoothly, and soon after, the pope was discharged from the hospital on October 17th, making his first public appearance on Sunday.

Although the surgery went well, it sent a massive wave of confusion for everyone worldwide. The Catholic community, being the ones most affected, did a faithful gathering in St. Peter’s Square to send a prayers, along with UN Secretary-General Antóino Guterres, who sent a hopeful message on social media wishing the pope a fast recovery and saying he stands with him and his community.

Even though the pope's condition resulted in heartfelt responses and people gathering together, it managed to clash with America's political figures. The matter of the pope's tense and influential relationship with the U.S. was brought up, given his public disagreements with Donald Trump. Overall, the world was sent into a panic, but it quickly shifted into communities rallying together to wish him best of luck.

Image Courtesy of Edgar Beltrán on Wikimedia Commons.