PITTSBURGH — Pope Leo underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted technique. According to the Vatican Press Office, the pontiff spent about three hours in the operating room.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Vatican says the pope has lung cancer and the lower lobe of his right lung was removed
The surgical procedure itself lasted about 90 minutes. Prayers and messages of support for the pope have poured in from his hometown of Chicago, Pittsburgh and across the world following the medical announcement.
Students were among those offering support following the procedure. Parker Ashley, a student, shared a message of prayer from their school community.
“Dear Pope Leo, the whole school hopes you get better. We’re all praying for you and the doctors that are helping you,” Ashley said.
Clergy members also expressed support for the pope’s health and future work.
The Rev. George Sears, pastor of Church of the Good Shepherd in Inwood, New York, offered prayers for his full recovery.
“My prayers are with him. I pray that they got all the cancer and the surgery and that he recovers soon and comes back to the ministry,” Sears said.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman shares statement on Pope Leo’s cancer diagnosis
Medical experts provided insight into the nature of the surgery and recovery expectations.
Dr. Liza Villaruz, chief of thoracic medical oncology at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, noted that patients generally tolerate the procedure well, particularly those who have never smoked.
“Patients can often tolerate removal of an entire lobe of the lung quite well. The hope is especially in a patient that’s never smoked. He actually should make a pretty normal recovery and be able to do everything that he was doing prior to the surgery,” Villaruz said.
Villaruz also pointed out the significance of Pope Leo speaking openly about his health, emphasizing that public diagnosis statements help raise awareness about lung cancer screening.
“I think it’s really cool that he made his diagnosis public and has been so open about it because it raises awareness for all of us that lung cancer can actually affect anyone, no matter who you are. What your age is or how healthy you are,” Villaruz said.
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