Pope Leo XIV has resumed walking and eating normally following surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his lung, with the Vatican reporting that his recovery is progressing as expected.
The 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery on Tuesday, which confirmed that he has lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
His medical team says initial blood tests and a chest X-ray show a stable recovery, adding that he has started respiratory exercises and resumed his regular diet.
Doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, who provided the medical update on Wednesday, say the Pope’s recovery is proceeding as planned.
However, further test results are still being awaited to determine whether the cancer has spread and whether additional treatment will be necessary.
During the operation, surgeons removed the affected lower lobe of the Pope’s lung, as well as selected lymph nodes for examination.
The Vatican indicated that the procedure achieved the complete removal of the affected lobe, although laboratory results are still needed to establish whether the disease has spread beyond the original site.
Treatment options could include chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or targeted medication, depending on the results of further tests.
Lung cancer specialist Dr. Stephen Liu says the next step is to establish the stage of the disease and determine whether the lymph nodes are affected.
The Pope’s recovery has also drawn attention to his decision to speak openly about his health.
He disclosed the existence of the lung growth during his Sunday address, marking a departure from the Vatican’s long-standing tradition of keeping details of papal illnesses private.
Church historian Giovanni Maria Vian described the disclosure as a significant change in how the Vatican communicates information about a pope’s health, noting that previous pontiffs’ medical conditions were often kept secret or acknowledged only much later.
Meanwhile, the Vatican has cleared Pope Leo’s official schedule through October 20, but has yet to confirm whether he will proceed with his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
The trip is expected to cover more than 31,000 kilometres and involve 12 flights, two helicopter journeys and significant changes in altitude in Peru.
Doctors typically advise patients to avoid air travel for about three weeks after this type of surgery, although the Pope’s participation will depend on his recovery and the results of further medical assessments.
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