Vatican diplomat says Pope Leo’s health should not be taken for granted

Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer after surgery to remove part of his right lung, prompting a senior Vatican official to say the pontiff’s health should not be taken “for granted”.

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister, told the BBC the diagnosis was “a bit of a game changer”. He said people may have assumed Leo was in excellent health because he appeared sporty and well.

Gallagher made the remarks after the Pope’s operation was announced but before his cancer diagnosis. Leo, 71, had surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday. The Vatican said the procedure was successful and had no complications. It later said tests confirmed lung adenocarcinoma in a nodule, as suspected before the operation. [1]

The Vatican has said Leo is steadily improving in hospital and was expected to lead Sunday prayers. It had previously said he showed no symptoms of infection or illness before the operation. His discharge date had not been announced; recovery was expected to take about a week.

Gallagher said he hoped Leo would recover, adding that many people had been through similar experiences. He also said he was concerned and wanted to know how the cancer had been discovered.

The archbishop said Leo was beginning to consider possible plans for a visit to the UK in 2027, but that discussions remained at an early stage and any trip would require considerable planning.