Boston Archbishop Henning Asks Prayers After Pope's Cancer Surgery

Boston Archbishop Richard Henning called on Catholics across the Archdiocese of Boston to pray for Pope Leo XIV on October 13, after surgery confirmed the pontiff has lung cancer, according to the Boston Globe.

Henning said he was inviting the faithful of the archdiocese to join him in prayer for the pope following news of the diagnosis, and asked that Leo be given "strength, peace, and healing" as he recovers.

The Vatican said in a medical bulletin that surgeons confirmed lung adenocarcinoma during the operation and took out the lower lobe of the pope's right lung. Preoperative testing had already pointed to the diagnosis. The 71-year-old was in the operating room roughly three hours, with the procedure itself running about 90 minutes, and the Vatican described the surgery as successful with no complications.

The bulletin did not address further treatment, and the Vatican said doctors were not discussing chemotherapy or other therapies at this stage. Press officials said the "radical" removal of the lobe indicated surgeons took out all suspect tissue.

Leo, a Chicago native, is the first American-born pope and the first Augustinian friar elected to the role. The Vatican canceled his audiences through Oct. 20.

This story was first reported by The Boston Globe.