A photo appearing to show a young Robert Francis Prevost smoking a cigarette has circulated on social media in recent days. However, I.MEDIA has discovered that the image was created by editing a real photograph. On October 13, 2026, Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, which contained a cancerous tumor. Asked whether the Pope had smoked in the past, the Holy See Press Office said it had no information on the matter. One of the first to share the doctored image was an account on X. The account also drew a connection between the Pope’s hospitalization and a video in which he encouraged the faithful to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The video was published during the pandemic, when he was bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. I.MEDIA tracked down the original version of the same photograph without the cigarette. The Pope’s brother, John Prevost, had provided it to the Read More…

As Pope Leo XIV recovers, beware fake photos