Doctors who operated on Pope Leo XIV have confirmed that his recovery from surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his lung is progressing normally. The Pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, earlier this week.
Post-operative tests show normal recovery
Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Gemelli Hospital, issued an update on the Pope's condition. They said: "This morning, the Holy Father underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled after surgery. The results confirm that his postoperative recovery is progressing normally: the values are within the expected range for the type of operation performed."
"The Holy Father has undergone respiratory physiotherapy and has begun walking around his room. He has resumed eating normally and had breakfast and lunch," the doctors added. "His recovery is proceeding as expected."
Surgery details and next steps
During the operation, surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Pope was in the operating room for approximately three hours, with the operation itself lasting about 90 minutes. The doctors said it was successful and there were no complications.
Questions remained about whether the cancer had spread. Blood tests and a chest X-ray showed the 71-year-old pope was recovering normally, his two doctors said.
Later, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, told journalists that the Pope concelebrated Mass on Wednesday afternoon in a room specially prepared for the purpose on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital.
In the coming days, post-operation exams will be conducted on the removed tissue. The preoperative tests had already shown the doctors where and how to operate.
Future plans and wider reactions
No change has been communicated regarding the previously announced hospitalization time of one week. However, Peru's president suggested Leo might have to alter his planned visit to Latin America next month.
Experts said some of Leo's lymph nodes would also have been removed and tested to determine whether the cancer had spread. Those results have not so far been made public.
It is understood that the King, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, plans to privately write to the Pope to pass on his best wishes following the diagnosis.
