The key facts

  • Leo XIV, 71, underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung at Gemelli hospital in Rome.
  • The Uniportal VATS technique developed by Spanish surgeon Diego González Rivas in 2010 in A Coruña was used.
  • The operation lasted about 90 minutes and, according to the Vatican, went smoothly; test results on the spread of the cancer are awaited.

The pope's surgery

The 71-year-old Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery on Tuesday at Rome's Gemelli hospital, during which a cancerous tumor was removed from his right lung. According to the Vatican, the procedure lasted about 90 minutes and went smoothly, as planned. The pope spent a 'calm' night and woke up in normal condition. Doctors are awaiting test results to determine whether the cancer has spread.

Spanish technique in the Vatican

The operation was performed using the Uniportal VATS technique developed by Spanish surgeon Diego González Rivas, a graduate of the University of Santiago de Compostela. In a video circulated on social media, he said: 'The pope has already been operated on; he is in his room with almost no pain and is recovering very well.' According to him, the reason for his deep pride is that the operation was performed using the technique he developed. González Rivas noted that the technique was created in A Coruña in 2010 and has since spread around the world, reaching 146 countries. The surgery itself was performed by the Gemelli team, with whose staff, according to the surgeon, he has close ties. 'A Spanish trace in the Vatican,' he concluded.

What is Uniportal VATS

Uniportal VATS is a minimally invasive thoracic surgery technique that allows operations through a single small incision measuring 3 to 5 centimeters. A video camera, which guides the course of the operation, and specialized surgical instruments are inserted through it. The method makes it possible to perform complex procedures, including removal of part of a lung, as well as biopsies of the lung or pleura. Its main advantages are reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, and faster recovery. At the same time, its use requires thoracic surgeons to have experience in both minimally invasive techniques and conventional surgery, as well as the ability to handle possible complications during the operation and in the postoperative period.