Pope Leo XIV Recovers Well After Lung Surgery

Pope Leo XIV's recovery from surgery to remove a lower lobe of his lung is progressing as expected, according to doctors.

The 71-year-old pontiff has begun walking and has resumed a normal diet following the approximately 90-minute procedure, medics announced in an update shared by the Vatican. The surgery was performed on Tuesday at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

During the operation, the Pope was diagnosed with lung cancer. The Vatican stated that the procedure was successful and proceeded without complications. Early on Wednesday, blood tests and an X-ray confirmed his recovery was proceeding normally, and he has also received respiratory physiotherapy.

Doctors removed the entire lower lobe of the Pope's right lung to ensure the procedure was radical, the Vatican said. Following the operation, the Pope awoke normally and returned to his room after a brief observation period, spending a peaceful night at the hospital. He is expected to remain hospitalized for about a week.

The Pope had announced his upcoming admission for the operation during his weekly Sunday prayers, informing the crowd in St. Peter's Square that doctors had discovered a "well-contained" nodule on his lung at an early stage and recommended its removal. While nodules are common and not always cancerous, medical teams confirmed it was malignant after examination, as suspected by pre-operative tests. He was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma.

A Vatican source indicated that further tests were conducted to determine if the cancer had spread. The Vatican has emphasized that the Pope, who is generally considered to be in good health, had no symptoms of infection or illness.

What is lung adenocarcinoma?

Adenocarcinomas develop in cells that produce mucus and are among the most common types of lung cancer. The long-term prognosis depends on factors such as the stage of the cancer when identified and the individual's overall health. Early detection generally leads to a better outlook, and treatments have improved in recent decades. Some adenocarcinomas are detected early, before symptoms manifest, during routine tests. At later stages, lung cancer can present with symptoms including a persistent cough, breathlessness, fatigue, and weight loss.