Shock in the Vatican: "I didn't expect something like this to happen, no one expected it"

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, expresses concern following Pope Leo XIV's surgery to remove a tumor and part of his right lung. The surgery was defined as successful, but the affair raises questions about Vatican transparency and the future of the Pope's term, including his planned trip to Latin America.

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, admitted he is concerned following Pope Leo XIV's surgery. "I certainly didn't expect something like this to happen, no one expected it," Parolin told reporters. The Pope, 71, was elected last year and became the first Pope born in the United States. Last Tuesday (October 13), he underwent surgery to remove a tumor and part of his right lung. The surgery was defined as successful, and the Pope noted that the disease was discovered at an early stage. His doctors reported that his recovery is progressing as expected. The medical diagnosis comes at a critical time, just as the Pope began to establish his status as a charismatic leader. Now, a question mark hovers over his planned 12-day trip to Latin America. The President of Peru, Keiko Fujimori, stated that preparations for the visit continue, but acknowledged that changes may occur. Meanwhile, the affair tests the transparency of the Vatican, as the Pope announced the discovery of the finding on Sunday, but only on Tuesday was it revealed that early tests had already indicated cancer.