ROME, Italy, October 15 (ANI) — Pope Leo XIV is showing positive signs of recovery on his third day in the hospital following surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the Holy See Press Office said in its latest update.
Providing details of his condition, the statement said, “This morning, the Holy Father underwent routine checks, which yielded normal results. The chest X-ray showed good recovery of the lung that underwent surgery. He carried out his daily activities independently. His physiotherapy session included a full range of physical activities. Overall, his postoperative recovery is progressing normally.”
The 71-year-old pontiff has lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer. Tissue analysis conducted during surgery confirmed the diagnosis, consistent with preliminary suspicions raised by doctors following preoperative assessments.
Leo was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon for surgery to remove a mass identified during a recent medical examination. The Holy See initially reported that the procedure had been successful before releasing further details from the lead surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at the hospital.
Margaritora said the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique intended to achieve a curative outcome.
A rapid tissue evaluation conducted during the operation confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, in line with preoperative expectations, according to the medical bulletin.
The surgery lasted approximately 90 minutes and concluded without complications. The pontiff regained consciousness normally and recovered in his hospital suite, the Vatican said.
Leo departed Vatican City shortly before 1 p.m. local time on Tuesday, traveling approximately nine kilometers north to Gemelli Hospital. He was seen waving from the rear compartment of a black SUV as his motorcade traveled through Rome.
Upon arriving at the hospital, he exchanged greetings with several officials and walked past a crowd of well-wishers who cheered and wished him a speedy recovery.
Earlier announcements from the Vatican indicated that Leo was expected to remain hospitalized for about a week, with all public duties suspended until October 20.
Elected by the College of Cardinals in May 2025, Leo is considered relatively young for a pope. Born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, he spent decades serving as a missionary and bishop in Peru before becoming head of the Catholic Church.
The pontiff enjoys athletic activities such as tennis and has no history of smoking. He had no widely publicized health complications before the current medical situation.
His predecessor, Pope Francis, was hospitalized several times as his physical condition deteriorated in his final years. He died at the age of 88 in April 2025.
Leo maintains a demanding schedule and is scheduled to undertake an 11-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
The pope holds the highest authority within the Catholic Church, an institution with approximately 1.4 billion adherents worldwide. No designated deputy automatically assumes his duties during periods of illness, although the Vatican’s routine administrative functions continue during any papal incapacity. (ANI)
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