By Tracy Cabrera
With Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expressed hope for Pope Leo XIV’s full recovery as he joined Filipino Catholics in praying for the pontiff after the removal of a cancerous nodule in the pontiff’s right lung.
In a social media message, Marcos Jr. conveyed the solidarity of Filipinos with the Catholic faithful around the world, saying the whole Philippines is praying for the Pope’s swift return to good health.
The President also voiced hope that the pontiff would continue providing spiritual guidance and blessings to Catholics worldwide amidst the turmoil of hunger and conflict affecting billions of people.
Pope Leo, 71, underwent surgery at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Tuesday to remove a small, localized growth in the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican reported that the procedure was successful.
The Lung Cancer Foundation of America estimates that lung adenocarcinoma accounts for about 40 percent of lung cancer cases globally.
The US National Library of Medicine’s National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that the disease typically develops in the outer regions of the lungs. It is also frequently diagnosed in people who do not smoke, among other groups.
The Pope’s medical condition has prompted calls for continued prayers from Church leaders and Catholic communities. Filipino Cardinal Pablo David, who is currently in the Vatican, likewise urged the faithful to pray for the pontiff’s recovery.
