Pope Leo XIV Brother Battles Cancer as Family Faces Double Health Crisis

(Louis Prevost. Photo by CBS News)

Louis Prevost, the older brother of Pope Leo XIV, has multiple myeloma, his wife Deborah Prevost told online, on Tuesday.

Louis lives in Florida.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects plasma cells.

Deborah said Louis was first diagnosed in 2017 and kept it at a very low level after treatment in 2019, which included stem cell treatment and a clinical trial.

He fell out of remission three months ago.

He is now in a clinical trial at a local hospital.

Her comments come after the Vatican said the pope had surgery on Tuesday to remove a lesion from his right lung.

The Vatican confirmed he has lung adenocarcinoma.

It has not said what stage the cancer is at or whether it has spread.

Deborah said the family is going through a lot but hopes the pope's cancer is in its early stages.

She said Louis and the pope spoke last week before Louis started his trial.

"We keep praying, keeping spirits up for both of them," she said.