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Missouri woman says Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer diagnosis has helped her faith

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Lisa Koester, a 64-year-old resident of Imperial, Missouri, said the lung cancer diagnosis of Pope Leo XIV has helped strengthen her Catholic faith. Koester told OSV News that sharing the same diagnosis with the pope made her feel less alone in her illness.

A former smoker, Koester had undergone regular lung screenings for eight to ten years. Following a recent screening, her physician, Dr. Nirmal Veeramachaneni of Saint Louis University and SSM Health, ordered a PET scan. Koester received the results in late August, which revealed a localized mass. She underwent surgery to treat the mass before it could spread to the chest wall.

Koester said her family resolved to face the diagnosis with courage, viewing the illness as part of God's plan.

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 9:31 AM PT · 9 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Apostolic Visitor to Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 9:16 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  3. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for urgent reconstruction in central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 9:00 AM PT · 30 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  5. Oct 31, 9:00 AM PT Pope Leo XIV welcomes thousands from Notre Dame, Villanova to Vatican ahead of historic game
  6. Oct 31, 8:58 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrims
  7. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  8. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  9. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  10. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  11. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  12. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  13. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  14. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives earthquake-affected Central Italy delegations
  15. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  16. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  17. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  18. Oct 31, 5:34 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV approves Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi
  19. Oct 31, 5:33 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV names Martial Bernard bishop of Soissons
  20. Oct 31, 5:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 under-secretaries of the Synod
  21. Oct 31, 5:10 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Albania's bishops
  22. Oct 31, 4:45 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay
  23. Oct 31, 4:32 AM PT · 22 sources Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Latin America
  24. Oct 31, 4:25 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV teaches on faith and culture
  25. Oct 31, 4:22 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Saturday 31 October

Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer diagnosis helps Missouri woman

Earlier version, Thursday 29 October

Lung cancer patient says Pope Leo's diagnosis strengthened her faith

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 28, 12:13 PM The Leaven ‘I felt like I wasn’t alone’ after Pope Leo diagnosis, says lung cancer patient
  2. Oct 28, 1:51 PM OSV News ‘I felt like I wasn’t alone’ after Pope Leo diagnosis, says lung cancer patient
  3. Oct 28, 1:20 PM The Catholic Sun ‘I felt like I wasn’t alone’ after Pope Leo diagnosis, says lung cancer patient
  4. Oct 28, 1:51 PM Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend ‘I felt like I wasn’t alone’ after Pope Leo diagnosis, says lung cancer patient
  5. Oct 29, 8:02 AM The Monitor ‘I felt like I wasn’t alone’ after Pope Leo diagnosis, says lung cancer patient
  6. Oct 29, 9:58 AM National Catholic Reporter 'I felt like I wasn't alone' after Pope Leo diagnosis, says lung cancer patient
  7. Oct 30, 10:45 PM Omnes Español «Sentí que no estaba solo» tras el diagnóstico del Papa León, afirma un paciente con cáncer de pulmón

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 9:31 AM PT · 9 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Apostolic Visitor to Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 9:16 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  3. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for urgent reconstruction in central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 9:00 AM PT · 30 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  5. Oct 31, 9:00 AM PT Pope Leo XIV welcomes thousands from Notre Dame, Villanova to Vatican ahead of historic game
  6. Oct 31, 8:58 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrims
  7. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  8. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  9. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  10. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  11. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  12. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  13. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  14. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives earthquake-affected Central Italy delegations
  15. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  16. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  17. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  18. Oct 31, 5:34 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV approves Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi
  19. Oct 31, 5:33 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV names Martial Bernard bishop of Soissons
  20. Oct 31, 5:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 under-secretaries of the Synod
  21. Oct 31, 5:10 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Albania's bishops
  22. Oct 31, 4:45 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay
  23. Oct 31, 4:32 AM PT · 22 sources Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Latin America
  24. Oct 31, 4:25 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV teaches on faith and culture
  25. Oct 31, 4:22 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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