You might be surprised to hear big medical news from the Vatican today. Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer, and doctors in Rome just performed an important surgery on him. People around the world are watching closely to see how the 71-year-old leader feels.
The Pope went to Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday morning for a special medical procedure. Before he arrived, a big crowd waited outside on the street for hours just to see him. When his car drove past, you could see him wave and smile warmly through an open window. Doctors found a tiny growth during regular health checkups a short while ago. Luckily, he had no pain or fever before this discovery. Inside the operating room, surgeons spent 90 minutes working carefully to remove a sick piece of his right lung. A medical test later showed that the lump was indeed cancer. Even though this sounds scary, his medical team acted fast so that he could heal safely. Hospital workers spoke kindly to him on the steps, and he gave them a calm shrug. Now, doctors are running more checks to ensure the sickness has not spread anywhere else in his body.
Facing sudden health trouble is never easy, but Pope Leo remains in good spirits. He is resting in his room while doctors monitor his daily recovery. Millions of believers are sending their prayers and hoping he returns to his duties soon.
