DOMINANT ANGLE
Manila is analyzing the operation of Pope Leo XIV from a medical perspective: confirmed adenocarcinoma, stage still unknown, and a Philippine cardinal, Luis Antonio Tagle, called to preside over the mass in his absence.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
On Tuesday, October 13, the lower lobe of the pope's right lung was removed at Gemelli Hospital; the perioperative examination confirmed a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, according to the Vatican bulletin.
- 02
Dr. Stephen Liu (Georgetown) emphasizes that the stage, which is crucial for the prognosis, is not yet known, as the size of the tumor and the condition of the lymph nodes have not been disclosed.
- 03
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines will preside over the mass on Wednesday, October 14, in St. Peter's Square in place of the pope; Pope Leo XIV's public events are cancelled until October 20.
ANALYSIS
Manille, October 14, 2026. The Philippine media are closely following the operation of Pope Leo XIV, 71 years old, in a country with a strong Catholic majority. Rappler and GMA News, which pick up the dispatches from Reuters and AFP, report that the pontiff was operated on Tuesday, October 13, at Rome's Gemelli hospital: the surgeons removed the lower lobe of the right lung using a video-assisted technique. According to the Vatican bulletin, "the operation was a success and there were no complications." Interaksyon quotes the press release from the Holy See Press Office: about three hours in the operating room, including a 90-minute intervention, and then a return to the tenth-floor room. The histological examination performed during the operation confirmed the suspected pulmonary adenocarcinoma from the preoperative tests. The doctors, surgeon Stefano Margaritora and personal physician Luigi Carbone, specify that the ablation aimed to make the gesture "curative."
The account emphasizes what remains unknown. GMA relays the experts interviewed by Reuters: the size of the tumor and the possible involvement of the lymph nodes have not been communicated. Dr. Stephen Liu, from Georgetown, summarizes: "We have the diagnosis, but not yet the stage." A second AFP dispatch, picked up by GMA and Inquirer, details what adenocarcinoma is, the most common form of non-small cell lung cancer, with five-year survival rates cited between 63 and 67% for a localized form. Interaksyon notes that the doctors have not mentioned chemotherapy at this stage and that new tests are expected in the coming days.
The press also recalls the context: the pope's first major hospitalization, elected in May 2025, a sportsman, and a non-smoker. His public audiences are canceled until October 20, and a week of hospitalization is planned.
The national angle appears in GMA's article on Cardinal Tagle. The Philippine prelate, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, is to preside over a mass with prayers for the pope's health on Wednesday, October 14, on St. Peter's Square. GMA recalls that he has just been approved as the dean of the College of Cardinals, the first Asian to hold this position, responsible for supervising a possible conclave. None of the pool's articles deal with the trip to Latin America scheduled for next month.
SOURCES (4)
- InquirerMEDIUM
- GMA NewsMEDIUM
- InteraksyonMEDIUM
