Doctors say Pope’s lung has recovered well from surgery and post-op tests normal

Pope Leo waves as he arrives at hospital

placeholder image — Pope Leo waves as he arrives at hospital

Leo had the lower right lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday.

Pope Leo XIV’s lung has recovered well from surgery to remove a cancerous nodule, and he resumed working from hospital on Thursday, his doctors and the Vatican reported.

Leo’s post-operative tests remained within normal levels and his physiotherapy session on Thursday involved full mobility exercises, with the Pope going about his daily activities independently, said the update from Leo’s personal doctor, Dr Luigi Carbone, and the head of thoracic surgery at the Gemelli hospital, Dr Stefano Margaritora.

“The chest X-ray revealed good recovery of the operated lung,” they reported. “Overall, his post-operative recovery is proceeding as expected.”

An image of Pope Leo rests at the base of a statue of late pope John Paul II outside the hospital where Leo had surgery (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Separately, the Vatican said Leo had received the Vatican chief of staff, or “substitute”, Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, and had resumed working from the hospital. Archbishop Rudelli handles much of the day-to-day administrative work of the Holy See.

For a second day Leo celebrated Mass with other priests in a special chapel set up near his room on the 10th floor of the hospital, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.

The 71-year-old had the lower right lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.

Doctors are still awaiting the results of tests to understand the precise molecular make-up of the cancer, whether it has spread beyond the lobe and whether any further treatment is necessary.

Leo will remain in hospital for a few more days (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

Asked if any changes to the Pope’s planned trip to South America in November were expected, spokesman Matteo Bruni pointed to Leo’s words on Sunday when he announced the discovery of the nodule and impending surgery.

“Thank you for your prayers for the pastoral visit I will make to Peru,” Leo said Sunday in Spanish, in a greeting delivered to a Peruvian group.

The trip is also scheduled to include stops in Uruguay and Argentina.

Leo is expected to remain in hospital until at least October 20.