Pope Leo XIV announces lung surgery, breaks Vatican secrecy tradition

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 05:32 · Archive

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, announced he had a lung nodule removed and is recovering at a Rome hospital.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, announced he had undergone surgery to remove a lung nodule, marking a break with Vatican tradition. He made the announcement himself on live television during his Sunday noon blessing from the Apostolic Palace and is now recovering at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome.

The Pope's approach to his health crisis differs markedly from his predecessors. Church historian Alberto Melloni noted that under John Paul II, the Vatican routinely issued misleading health updates. When John Paul underwent a tracheotomy whilst battling respiratory infection and Parkinson's disease, his spokesman told reporters the next morning that he had eaten a full breakfast, which Melloni described as implausible. "It was normal then that they told lies about the pope. Those were the rules of the game," Melloni said.

Leo has changed those rules. Rather than Vatican officials controlling the narrative, his personal physician Dr Luigi Carbone and Dr Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli, have been signing the medical bulletins. They have provided daily updates on his recovery since his surgery on Tuesday, bringing American-style transparency to papal health matters.

How it is being reported

• An American pope brings American-style governance to the Vatican, even in a health crisisPope Leo XIV has brought an American style of governing to the Vatican, including in the way it handles health crises.Clickorlando · 17 Oct, 05:00
• An American pope brings American-style governance to the Vatican, even in a health crisisPope Leo XIV has brought an American style of governing to the Vatican, including in the way it handles health crises.News4Jax · 17 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Pope Leo XIV · John Paul II · Vatican · Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic · Rome · Alberto Melloni · Luigi Carbone · Stefano Margaritora

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