Pope Leo XIV spent a peaceful night at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, the Vatican said Wednesday morning. The 71-year-old pontiff was diagnosed Tuesday with adenocarcinoma after doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung.
The Vatican has not disclosed the size of the tumor or whether the disease had spread. The pope is expected to remain in the hospital for about a week; his public engagements have been cancelled until Oct. 20.
Leo is known for an active and healthy lifestyle that includes swimming and tennis. He has never smoked. The New York Times quotes one of his biographers: “Leo has the profile of someone who takes care of himself. So that has added to the shock.”
When storms strike
His diagnosis shows that innocent suffering finds us all, whatever our relationship with God. The natural disasters we began discussing this week are obvious examples. When hurricanes and earthquakes strike, it is only natural to question whether the God we trust is truly all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by the Denison Forum.
