Spanish Surgeon's Technique Saves Pope Leo XIV

When Pope Leo XIV needed emergency cancer surgery last Tuesday, his medical team reached for a Spanish innovation that's transforming how doctors save lives around the world.

Dr. Diego González Rivas, a thoracic surgeon working in A Coruña, Spain, developed the Uniportal VATS technique back in 2010. His method allows surgeons to remove tumors and damaged lung tissue through a single tiny incision just 3 to 5 centimeters long.

The 71-year-old Pope underwent the 90-minute procedure at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. Vatican officials confirmed the surgery went smoothly, and the pontiff woke up with minimal pain.

"The Pope has already been operated on; he is on the ward with hardly any pain and recovering very well," González Rivas shared in a video after the surgery. He expressed deep pride that the technique born in his Spanish hospital had reached the Vatican.

Traditional lung surgery requires large incisions that cause significant pain and long recovery times. The Uniportal VATS technique changes everything by using a miniature camera and specialized instruments inserted through one small opening.

Patients who receive this surgery typically experience less post-operative pain, spend fewer days in the hospital, and return to normal life much faster. The technique works for complex procedures including partial lung removals and biopsies.

The Ripple Effect

Since González Rivas introduced his technique 16 years ago, it has spread to 146 countries worldwide. Thousands of patients who once faced major surgery now benefit from this gentler approach.

The surgeon graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela and refined his method through years of practice. He maintains close relationships with surgical teams across Europe, including the doctors at Gemelli Hospital who treated the Pope.

The technique does require surgeons with specialized training in both minimally invasive and conventional methods. They must be ready to handle any complications that arise during or after surgery.

Doctors are now waiting for test results to determine whether the Pope's cancer has spread, but his initial recovery looks promising. He spent a calm night after surgery and woke up normally the next morning.

For González Rivas, seeing his innovation used in such a high-profile case represents more than personal achievement—it shows how Spanish medical science continues advancing global healthcare.