Vatican foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher has cautioned against assuming Pope Leo XIV’s continued good health, stating the pontiff’s recent medical situation represents a significant development for the church.
The Pope underwent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital earlier this week to remove a lower lobe of his right lung. Following examination of tissue removed during the procedure, doctors identified a lung adenocarcinoma. The Vatican reported the operation proceeded successfully without complications. Medical officials indicated the Pope showed no prior symptoms of infection or illness before the surgery, and that the nodule was identified as cancerous following pre-operative tests.
Archbishop Gallagher, who has served as the Vatican’s foreign minister since 2014, told the BBC that the discovery of the Pope’s health condition constitutes “a bit of a game changer.” He reflected on how the papacy had recently transitioned from Pope Francis, who used a wheelchair in his later years, to Pope Leo, whose youthful appearance and active lifestyle had suggested robust health. The Archbishop acknowledged this assumption may now require reconsideration and noted the church must examine how the condition was identified and what steps will be taken forward.
The Vatican stated the Pope is demonstrating steady improvement while hospitalized and was anticipated to lead Sunday prayers. Recovery is expected to require approximately one week, though no specific discharge date has been provided. The pontiff made the announcement of his operation himself during weekly prayers, informing crowds in St Peter’s Square about the discovered nodule.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Gallagher indicated the Pope is beginning to consider potential international engagements, including a possible visit to the United Kingdom in 2027, though such plans remain in preliminary stages.
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