Pope Leo XIV Recovers Well After Lung Cancer Surgery
The 71-year-old pontiff is walking and eating normally following the removal of a cancerous mass from his right lung.
Pope Leo XIV is recovering "as expected" after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his lung, the Vatican announced Wednesday. The 71-year-old pontiff has resumed normal activities, including walking in his hospital room and celebrating Mass.
Surgeons on Tuesday successfully removed the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung, which contained cancerous cells identified as adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Doctors at Gemelli Hospital stated that tests confirm his postoperative recovery is progressing normally, with key values within the expected range for the procedure.
"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 medical team reported. The pontiff reportedly concelebrated Mass on Wednesday afternoon.
Adenocarcinoma, if detected early, is considered treatable. Risk factors for the disease include smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and toxins like asbestos, as well as family history. The Vatican has not announced any changes to the Pope's scheduled trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6-17, despite medical advice suggesting a three-week period without flying after such surgery.
The surgery lasted approximately 90 minutes, with the Pope in the operating room for about three hours. He had publicly disclosed the need for the procedure during a Sunday service, stating that doctors had discovered a "small, localized nodule" in his lung and advised its removal.