Pope Leo XIV has undergone surgery for lung cancer in Rome, while his older brother, Louis Prevost, is receiving treatment for multiple myeloma in Florida. The Vatican said the 71-year-old pope was stable after doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung, with no complications reported. Neither family members nor the Vatican have disclosed a long-term prognosis.
Pope Leo XIV recovers after 90-minute operation
The pope, born Robert Francis Prevost, is the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church. He underwent an operation lasting about 90 minutes on Tuesday at Romeās Gemelli Hospital. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung and diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma, a cancer that typically develops in the outer part of the lung.
The Vatican said the procedure was completed successfully and without complications. After a brief period of observation, the pope woke up and returned to his hospital room. On Wednesday morning, the Vatican said he had spent a āpeaceful nightā and was expected to remain in hospital for about a week.
Doctors found a nodule in the popeās lung during a routine check-up. He announced on Sunday that he would undergo surgery in the coming days; the subsequent diagnosis was lung adenocarcinoma. The cancer originates in mucus-producing cells and is among the more common types of lung cancer.
Louis Prevost receives CAR-T therapy
The popeās older brother is also being treated for cancer. His wife, Deborah Prevost, said Louis has multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, and is taking part in a clinical trial at a hospital near the coupleās home in Florida. She did not disclose the stage of his disease.
Louis was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017 and received treatment in 2019. Deborah said the disease returned about three months ago, ending his remission. He is now receiving CAR-T cell therapy, which reprograms a patientās immune cells to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Multiple myeloma affects the blood and bone marrow and can also damage the kidneys. The condition is generally not considered curable, though the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation says survival rates have improved significantly over the past decade. The UK National Health Service also notes that the disease can affect the kidneys.
Family says the brothers remain in contact
Deborah said the family was āgoing through a lotā but was trying to stay positive for both brothers. She said Louis and the pope spoke by phone last week, before Louis was due to enter hospital, and the pope knew his brother was about to begin treatment.
Louis said he was shocked to learn that his younger brother had cancer as well. He received updates from staff around the pope that the operation was over, the pope was awake and he was not in pain. The family was waiting for further news with āa lot of hope and positivity,ā he said.
The long-term outlook for lung adenocarcinoma depends on the stage at diagnosis, a patientās overall health and response to treatment. Finding a tumour before symptoms develop can leave more treatment options. As the disease advances, symptoms may include a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue and weight loss. The Vatican has not released further details about the popeās cancer stage or next steps in treatment, and information about Louisās progress remains limited to updates from his family and medical providers.