VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV was recovering without complication Wednesday after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his right lung, medical officials and church authorities said.
The 71-year-old pontiff underwent scheduled blood testing and an X-ray of his chest one day after physicians excised the lower lobe of his right lung at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, according to the New York Post. The Holy See Press Office confirmed that tissue examinations conducted during the operation verified a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, aligning with evaluations conducted before the procedure, Fox News reported.
Progress in the hospital
Surgeons spent about 90 minutes performing the operation, during which no complications arose, according to Vatican officials. The pope spent approximately three hours total in the operating suite before waking normally and returning to his private room.
By Wednesday, the pontiff had already started walking around his room, participating in respiratory physiotherapy and eating standard meals, his physicians said in a joint release. Dr. Luigi Carbone and Prof. Stefano Margaritora stated that test results showed his post-operative condition was advancing normally and that vital metrics remained within anticipated parameters for the surgery, the New York Post reported.
The pope also concelebrated Mass inside the hospital on Wednesday afternoon, according to the New York Post.
The health crisis marks the first major medical challenge faced by the pontiff since his election as head of the Catholic Church. Leo had previously alerted the public to the issue during a Sunday prayer address in St. Peter’s Square, telling the faithful that doctors had identified a localized nodule in his chest and advised surgical removal, the New York Post reported.
International reaction and upcoming schedule
The health announcement prompted well wishes from international leaders, including President Donald Trump. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One while flying between Arizona and Montana, Trump offered prayers for the pope’s health and commented on the diagnosis, Fox News reported.
“I want to see Pope Leo get well,” Trump told reporters, according to Fox News. “The prognosis seems to be good, I’ve watched. And we just want to wish him our love and our best wishes.”
Trump also mentioned that he shares a personal friendship with the pontiff’s brother and sister-in-law, describing them as enthusiastic political supporters, Fox News reported.
Adenocarcinoma represents the most frequent variety of lung cancer, according to the Associated Press. While risks are linked to smoking, environmental toxins and family medical history, health specialists note the condition remains highly treatable whenever it is identified at an early stage.
Despite the surgical intervention, the Vatican has maintained the pontiff’s upcoming international itinerary. Leo is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru — where he maintains dual citizenship — between Nov. 6 and Nov. 17, the New York Post reported. Although physicians recommend that patients avoid air travel for three weeks after such thoracic procedures, the calendar permits him sufficient time to heal before his planned departure.
It remains uncertain how long the pope will remain hospitalized before returning to the Vatican to resume his administrative duties.
