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The Daily Horizon

Does the Pope have one lung?

Author

Matthew Wilson

Updated on January 20, 2026

Vatican officials now say that the new Pope Francis lost just part of a lung to disease as a young man, and that the injury has never affected his work. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires had a pulmonary illness some 40 years ago during which part of one lung was removed, according to Fr.

How many lungs does the pope have?

Pope Francis is a pioneering pontiff in many ways — he's the first to take the name of Francis, the first pope from South America, and the first to don the papal robes with an unusual medical condition.

Why does the pope have only one lung?

He has dubbed the condition “a troublesome guest". Francis almost died when he was 21 after developing pleurisy — an inflammation of the tissues that surround the lung — according to biographer Austen Ivereigh. He had part of one of his lungs removed in October 1957.

Does the pope have both lungs?

Newly elected Pope Francis is two years younger than Pope Benedict XVI was when he was elected in 2005, but the 76-year-old from Argentina still has at least one health issue: He has only one lung.

Why was Pope Francis lung removed?

Given the pope's previous respiratory issues — he is missing part of his right lung after having it removed following a severe bout of pneumonia in his youth — Chand said doctors would need to monitor his breathing carefully.

15 Things You Didn’t Know About Pope Francis

Can you survive with one lung?

Most people can get by with only one lung instead of two, if needed. Usually, one lung can provide enough oxygen and remove enough carbon dioxide, unless the other lung is damaged.

What surgery the Pope had?

The Vatican said Pope Francis underwent a left-hemicolectomy, a surgical procedure that involves removing the left side of the colon and joining the remaining sections. Doctors not involved in the pontiff's care said the procedure was common in cases of recurring episodes of diverticulitis.

Who is the Pope's wife?

However, the rule books when you become Pope are a little stricter. You have to learn multiple languages, attend confession, meet with heads of state, lead mass services, and remain celibate. This means the simple answer to this article's question is no, Popes do not marry.

What is the pope's net worth?

The estimated net worth of Pope Francis is $2.5 million.

Among being a religious center for a large percentage of the population, the Vatican is also one of the richest entities on the planet.

What does it feel like to have one lung?

Learning to slow down

While most people with two lungs expect people with one lung to be winded all the time, the surprising fact is that the remaining lung expands to replace the space in the chest. After recovery, a person with one lung can expect to have at least 70 percent of their previous respiratory function.

How long can you live with 1 lung?

Many people with one lung can live to a normal life expectancy, but patients are unable to perform vigorous activities and may still experience shortness of breath. Your chances for recovery from heart and lung transplants today are improved greatly since the first transplant operations done in the 70s and 80s.

What is the real name of Pope Francis?

Francis, also called Francis I, original name Jorge Mario Bergoglio, (born December 17, 1936, Buenos Aires, Argentina), the bishop of Rome and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church (2013– ). He was the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, the first from South America, and the first from the Jesuit order.

Why do the popes wear red shoes?

The indoor Papal Slippers were made of red velvet or silk and were heavily decorated in gold braid, with a gold cross in the middle. Throughout Church history, the color red has been deliberately chosen to represent the blood of Catholic martyrs spilt through the centuries following in the footsteps of Christ.

Who was youngest pope?

Pope Benedict IX (Latin: Benedictus IX; c. 1012 – c. 1056), born Theophylactus of Tusculum in Rome, was Bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States on three occasions between October 1032 and July 1048. Aged approximately 20 at his first election, he is one of the youngest popes in history.

Does the pope get paid a salary?

The pope will not be affected by the cuts, because he does not receive a salary. “As an absolute monarch, he has everything at his disposal and nothing at his disposal,” Mr. Muolo said. “He doesn't need an income, because he has everything that he needs.”

Does the Pope pay tax?

One key government function missing from the Vatican is taxation. The city has no taxes, no restrictions on imports or exports and there are no customs fees.

Who owns the Vatican?

The Holy See is the organization that owns the Vatican, i.e. the smallest independent city-state in the world. They print their own passports, have their own media, and even maintain their own mail service, all for a population numbering no more than 1,000 people.

Which pope had a child with his daughter?

And the old man licking his lips at the antics of the call-girls was none other than the Pope himself, Alexander VI, formerly known as Rodrigo Borgia. It is said that his daughter Lucrezia and his son Cesare were also there, enjoying the spectacle.

Can the Pope smoke?

Pope Francis, who had a lung removed as a teenager, does not smoke.

Why is the pope in a wheelchair?

“An inflamed ligament in the knee,” the pope said, noting the condition is common among the elderly. He described it as a problem that would soon pass. But by late April, he said his right knee was “still not healing.” Soon after, he was using a wheelchair.

What is the Pope suffering from?

Francis suffers from diverticulitis, a condition in the sigmoid colon in which saclike bulges on the colon walls become repeatedly inflamed or infected and can warrant surgical intervention, according to Dr.

What recent surgery did Pope Francis have?

The Vatican has stressed Pope Francis is recovering well from his recent colon surgery and a ten-day post-operative stay in hospital. Later this year, he has trips to Hungary and Slovakia planned.