Pope Leo’s Brother Louis Prevost Undergoing Cancer Treatment As Pontiff Recovers From Lung Surgery

The older brother of Pope Leo XIV is also receiving treatment for cancer, his family has confirmed, revealing that two brothers are now battling the disease simultaneously.

Louis Prevost, 74, was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer affecting bone marrow, in 2017 and underwent stem cell treatment two years later that kept the disease at a “very low level” for years.

His wife, Deborah Prevost, told CBS News that her husband “fell out of remission” three months ago and is now participating in a clinical trial at a hospital in Florida, where the couple lives.

“We keep praying, keeping spirits up for both of them,” Deborah Prevost said, describing the family as “going through a lot”.

Louis Prevost confirmed his own diagnosis in a separate interview with Newsmax, saying he was undergoing CAR-T cell therapy and had received new cells on Monday.

“I think my positive attitude and his positive attitude have gone a long way towards keeping me alive and here on Earth and relatively healthy,” he said. “And the same thing will be with him”.

The disclosure came as Pope Leo XIV, 71, recovers from a 90-minute surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.

The Vatican confirmed the pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer usually found in the outer part of the lung. Medical staff said the surgery was successful with no complications.

Louis Prevost said he had not yet spoken directly with his brother after the operation but received an encouraging update from a close aide. “I got a message from his right hand that he was out of surgery, awake, feeling good, and was in no pain,” he said.

“They caught it early enough, and he’ll be able to heal from the surgery and go on with his papal ministry,” he added.

The two brothers spoke last week before Louis began his latest clinical trial treatment. Deborah Prevost said the pope “called to let us know what would be happening”.

Louis Prevost said the discovery of his brother’s lung nodule came as a shock, particularly because he was undergoing cancer treatment himself. “To hear that he had that nodule on his lung, that was kind of nerve-wracking, shaky,” he said.

He even suggested the pope travel to Tampa for treatment at his hospital, praising the cancer care there. The brothers joked about the proposal and discussed the care available in Rome.

Louis Prevost is a US Navy veteran and the eldest of the three Prevost brothers, who grew up in Dolton, a suburb south of Chicago.

The Vatican said the pope spent a peaceful night after surgery and his postoperative recovery is progressing normally. He has begun respiratory physiotherapy and resumed eating normally.

Pope Leo is expected to remain in hospital for about a week, and all papal audiences have been cancelled through October 20.