Pope Leo XIV’s recovery from a 90‑minute operation to excise a lower lobe of his right lung is progressing as expected, doctors said.
The 71‑year‑old pontiff began walking and has resumed a normal diet after the procedure, which the Vatican described as successful and complication‑free.
Blood tests and an X‑ray early Wednesday showed his recovery was proceeding normally, and he has also undergone respiratory physiotherapy.
The entire lower lobe was removed “to ensure the procedure was radical,” the Vatican said, following the surgery on Tuesday afternoon.
After the operation, the Pope awoke normally, returned to his room after a brief observation period, and spent a peaceful night in the hospital.
He is expected to remain at Gemelli for about a week as he continues to recover.
Leo XIV announced his admission for the operation during his weekly Sunday prayers, noting that doctors had found a “well‑contained” nodule on his lung at an early stage and advised removal.
Tests confirmed the nodule was lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer that develops in mucus‑producing cells.
Further tests were carried out to determine whether the cancer had spread, a Vatican source told AFP.
The Pope, generally considered fit, showed no symptoms of infection or illness during his stay.
The news has shocked Catholics worldwide, many of whom recall Pope Francis’s recent hospital visits.
