The Vatican State Secretary, Pietro Parolin, expressed concern regarding the health condition of Pope Leo XIV, after he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous nodule in his lung. Despite initial apprehension, Parolin conveyed confidence in the medical team.
The cardinal made this statement during an event organized by the Iraqi embassy in conjunction with the Vatican. He stated he was 'truly, enormously sad about what happened,' but stressed that he places faith in the information contained in the medical reports, maintaining hope for a swift resolution to the situation.
Leo XIV, who is 71 years old, underwent an operation on Tuesday at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, aimed at removing the cancerous nodule. Currently, the analysis of tests is awaited to verify if the cancer has spread throughout the body.
The pontiff, who is American, is in the recovery phase and has already resumed some activities within the hospital room. Parolin mentioned the possibility of Leo XIV presiding over the Angelus prayer on Sunday, provided the recovery progresses positively.
According to Parolin, the holding of the Angelus will depend on the evolution of his clinical condition, with an estimated timeframe of five days. If the Pope is better by the end of the week, he will likely hold the Angelus from the Gemelli Hospital.
The State Secretary also warned that the current diagnosis could impact Pope Leo XIV's next apostolic journey, scheduled between November 6th and 17th in Latin America. This itinerary includes visits to ten cities in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, a country where the Pope dedicated a large part of his missionary work.
Parolin emphasized that it is up to the doctors to determine whether the Pope will be able to undertake a journey which he described as 'long and demanding.' He reiterated the need to await hospital discharge to obtain the medical opinion on travel capacity.
Matteo Bruni, Director of the Vatican Press Office, recalled that the Pope himself had clearly communicated his intention to travel, stating: 'We heard the words of the Pope, his intention and his desire to go. We will see.'
Parolin praised Leo XIV's transparency in publicly informing about the surgical intervention, thus avoiding speculation about his health.
Although the State Secretary did not rule out that the pontiff might adjust his duties as required by clinical evolution, he considered it premature to anticipate any drastic change. Parolin concluded that, based on all factors, the Pope could reformulate his papacy if strictly necessary.
The surgery took place on Tuesday, and the Vatican had notified the day before of the cancellation of all of Leo XIV's audiences until October 20th.