Pope Leo’s Brother Also Has Cancer, Wife Says: ‘We Keep Praying’
Pope Leo’s Brother Also Has Cancer, Wife Says: ‘We Keep Praying’
Abigail AdamsWed, October 14, 2026 at 4:28 PM UTC
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(L-R) Pope Leo XIV, and his brother, Louis Prevost, both have been diagnosed with cancer.Credit: Stefano Costantino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty; CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty -
Louis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV’s brother, also has cancer, according to his wife
Deborah Prevost said her husband was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017 and recently “fell out of remission”
The Vatican announced on Oct. 13 that Leo had been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma and had undergone surgery to remove part of his right lung
Pope Leo XIV’s older brother also has cancer, according to his wife.
On the heels of the news that the 71-year-old pontiff had been diagnosed with lung cancer, Deborah Prevost, Louis Prevost’s wife, told CBS News that her husband has multiple myeloma.
Louis was first diagnosed in 2017, Deborah said, according to the outlet. She went on to say that her husband underwent treatment in 2019, including stem cell treatment and a clinical trial, but that he “fell out of remission” three months ago.
Deborah said her husband spoke with Leo last week when the pontiff “called to let us know what would be happening.”
“We keep praying, keeping spirits up for both of them,” she added.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the body’s plasma cells, which “make antibodies that protect us from infection,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After developing in the bone marrow, the plasma cell tumors can then spread throughout the body.
The Vatican announced on Oct. 13 that Pope Leo XIV had been diagnosed with lung cancer.Credit: Andres Gutierrez/Anadolu via Getty
Meanwhile, lung adenocarcinoma — the type of cancer the pope was diagnosed with — is the most common form of lung cancer, according to Harvard University.
The cancer “occurs when abnormal lung cells multiply out of control and form a tumor,” the university said, explaining that “eventually, tumor cells can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.”
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Leo had a portion of his lower right lung removed during a surgical procedure at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Tuesday, according to a statement from Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora.
There were no complications and the Vatican described the operation as successful.
In an update, Dr. Carbone and Professor Margaritora said blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed that Leo’s postoperative recovery “is progressing normally.”
“The Holy Father has undergone respiratory physiotherapy and has begun walking around his room,” they added. “He has resumed eating normally and had breakfast and lunch. His recovery is proceeding as expected.”
Pope Leo XIV had a portion of his lung surgically removed on Oct. 13.Credit: Telmo Pinto/NurPhoto via Getty
Speaking at his weekly blessing and prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, Oct. 11, Leo revealed that doctors had advised he undergo surgery after discovering a a “very early-stage” nodule, according to The New York Times.
Before Leo’s operation, oncologists said that the pope’s prognosis was “excellent” given the cancer would be removed at an early stage, the reported. His treatment plan and next steps were not immediately made clear.
Leo, whose audiences have been canceled through early next week, had been expected to spend about a week recovering in the hospital.
on People
Source: “AOL Breaking”
