Catherine Hadro

The Holy See Press Office on Tuesday evening released a statement about Pope Leo’s surgery stating: “The intraoperative frozen-section examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma [a type of non-small cell lung cancer], as suspected from the preoperative tests.” The statement also said “the Holy Father was in the operating room for approximately three hours; the operation itself lasted approximately 90 minutes. The operation was successful, and there were no complications.” “Following the operation, the pope awoke normally and, after a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the 10th floor.” Follow our updates at ewtnnews.com

EWTN Global Catholic Network on Friday named Ursula Murua, a longtime leader of digital strategy, as the next president of EWTN News, effective Nov. 1. Murua, a native of Peru who is director of digital strategy and social media for EWTN News, succeeds Montse Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News since 2023, whom Pope Leo XIV appointed in June as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. Alvarado takes up the Vatican post the same day. Murua’s path into journalism is linked to EWTN’s foundress. When Mother Angelica visited Peru, she gave a talk that Murua, then 20, covered for the then-fledgling ACI Prensa, EWTN Chairman of the Board and CEO Michael P. Warsaw told staff in a message announcing the appointment. “Mother could not have known that one of the young women listening to her would someday help take that same message around the world and eventually be entrusted with leading one of the divisions of the apostolate she founded,” Warsaw wrote. “In many ways, it feels designed by Providence.” Murua’s career in Catholic media spans more than 30 years and predates EWTN’s acquisition of ACI Prensa. At EWTN, she has held leadership roles across digital, editorial, and broadcast operations, including on the team of “EWTN Noticias,” the network’s flagship Spanish-language nightly newscast. She played a central role in launching the network’s social media presence and has led digital coverage of three papal conclaves, multiple World Youth Days and jubilees, International Eucharistic Congresses, and Synods of Bishops. “Ursula understands both the mission of EWTN and the rapidly changing ways people encounter news, faith, and one another,” Warsaw said in a statement. “She has helped shape the digital transformation of EWTN News from within while remaining deeply committed to the truth of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church.” In a first comment on her appointment, Murua said: "I have had the extraordinary privilege of watching Catholic media transform from radio and broadcast to websites, social media and mobile platforms, and now confront the challenge and promise of artificial intelligence.” “But the reason we do this work has never changed. People are hungry for truth, for meaning, and ultimately for Christ. Our responsibility is to understand where they are, how they are searching, and how we can faithfully meet them there.” Speaking of her successor, Alvarado noted Murua, in her role as president of EWTN News, will “continue the work we began together, expanding EWTN News’ digital presence and developing new ways to reach audiences while strengthening our commitment to journalism rooted in fidelity to the Gospel.” More: ewtnnews.com/world/us/ewtn-n… ✍️ EWTN News Staff