Pope Leo XIV recovering well after lung cancer surgery, doctors say

Pope Leo XIV recovering well after lung cancer surgery, doctors say - Pope Leo XIV at a past weekly General Audience. (Photo: Vatican Media)

Dr Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said a chest X-ray showed that the lung was recovering well, two days after the 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

Pope Leo XIV’s recovery from lung cancer surgery is progressing normally, with his doctors reporting good recovery of the operated lung and normal results from routine medical checks.

In a medical update on Thursday, Dr Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said a chest X-ray showed that the lung was recovering well, two days after the 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

“The chest X-ray showed good recovery of the lung that underwent surgery,” the doctors said.

They added that the Pope was carrying out his daily activities independently and had completed a physiotherapy session involving a full range of physical activities.

“Overall, his postoperative recovery is progressing normally,” they said.

The update came as the Pope resumed work from his hospital room. According to the Holy See Press Office, he also concelebrated Mass on Thursday morning in a room prepared for the purpose on the hospital’s 10th floor, as he had done on Wednesday afternoon.

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Pope Leo underwent surgery on Tuesday, after doctors discovered a small, localised nodule in his lung during recent medical examinations. He announced the finding to the faithful during his Sunday Angelus address, saying it had been detected at an early stage and that doctors had recommended its removal.

The operation, which involved removing the lower lobe of his right lung, lasted about 90 minutes, with the Vatican saying it was completed successfully without complications.

An examination of tissue taken during the operation confirmed that the nodule was lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer. The diagnosis had been suspected from tests conducted before the surgery, according to the Vatican.

The latest update follows an earlier report on Wednesday that the Pope had spent a calm first night in hospital. Subsequent information from the Vatican said his postoperative tests were within the expected range and that he had begun walking around his room and eating normally.