VATICAN CITY — When US Cardinal Robert Prevost emerged on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in May 2025 as Pope Leo XIV, the new leader of the Catholic Church, he struck a stark contrast from his predecessor Francis.
Leo, young for a pope at 69, appeared energetic, spoke in a strong voice and had no known history of health issues. Francis, who died at 88, had become increasingly frail during his 12-year papacy.
With the Vatican’s announcement on Tuesday that Leo, now 71, was diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed part of his right lung that afternoon, the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics are again unexpectedly facing the reality of a sick pope.
Leo, the first US-born pontiff, has emerged as an increasingly influential voice beyond the Church, raising alarm about the risks posed by artificial intelligence and drawing the ire of US President Donald Trump by criticizing the Iran war.
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