Pope Leo XIV Resumes Normal Diet, Walks After Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV has resumed his regular diet, begun walking, and is undergoing respiratory exercises as he recovers from surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his lung, the Vatican announced Wednesday. Doctors confirmed the 71-year-old pontiff is recovering normally, with blood tests and a chest X-ray showing expected progress.

Surgeons removed the lower lobe of Leo's right lung on Tuesday after confirming he had lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. His personal doctor, Luigi Carbone, and thoracic surgeon Stefano Margaritora stated that the pontiff resumed his regular diet and had breakfast and lunch, with recovery proceeding as planned.

Experts noted that lymph nodes were also removed during the surgery to determine if the cancer has spread. These results have not yet been publicly released. Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer specialist not involved in the pope's care, explained that the stage of the cancer, including its size and involvement of lymph nodes, is crucial for guiding treatment. He added that adenocarcinoma generally has the most favorable prognosis among lung cancers.

Dr. PierCarlo Gentile, head of radiation oncology at Rome's San Pietro Fatebenefratelli Hospital, indicated that the minimally invasive surgery typically requires 15 to 20 days of recovery, with postoperative complications being rare.

The Vatican has not announced any changes to Leo’s planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6-17. However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori expressed uncertainty about the visit, noting that the pope's recovery timeline could necessitate adjustments to the itinerary. Fujimori added that millions in Peru are praying for his swift recovery and would understand if the trip needed to be altered.

Oncology surgeons commonly advise patients to refrain from flying for three weeks post-surgery. Liu suggested that if the cancer is Stage 1, the trips could proceed, but if further treatment is required, he would likely advise against them.

The Vatican's transparency regarding Leo's health marks a significant departure from historical practices. The pontiff himself publicly announced the discovery of a lung nodule before his surgery, a move described by church historian Giovanni Maria Vian as a "revolution" in Vatican communications. Historically, the Vatican maintained a tight-lipped approach to papal health issues, a practice exemplified by past popes whose serious illnesses were only confirmed after their deaths.

Leo’s decision to announce his condition and upcoming surgery on live television provided a rare degree of openness about his health, the first publicly disclosed major health issue of his 17-month papacy. Preoperative tests had already led doctors to suspect cancer, which the surgery confirmed. The Vatican later revealed that diagnostic tests, including a robotic bronchoscopic biopsy, CT scan, and PET scan, had been performed prior to the surgery.