The Vatican announced on Wednesday that Pope Leo continues to make steady progress in his recovery from surgery. Following the removal of part of his right lung due to lung cancer, the 71-year-old pontiff has started walking in his hospital room and resuming normal eating habits.
World leaders, Catholics worldwide, and senior cardinals at the Vatican have extended their prayers for Pope Leo’s swift recovery after the surgical procedure. Post-operative blood tests and a chest X-ray conducted on Wednesday showed positive results, with the pontiff undergoing respiratory physiotherapy as part of his rehabilitation.
The unexpected cancer diagnosis for a relatively young and active Pope, elected in May 2025, has sparked concern about the future trajectory of his papacy. Despite his demanding schedule, which includes an upcoming tour of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17, the Vatican confirmed that there are no changes to his planned itinerary.
However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori noted the possibility of rescheduling the tour dates based on the extent of Pope Leo’s recovery period. The public engagements of the Pope have been canceled until Oct. 20, with the Vatican projecting his hospital stay to last approximately a week.
During an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prayers were offered for the Pope’s well-being and complete healing following the surgery. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed solidarity with the global faithful in praying for the full recovery of Pope Leo XIV and extended appreciation to the medical team attending to him.
The successful surgery to address the lung adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent form of lung cancer, involved the removal of the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung. The operation, lasting around 90 minutes and free of complications, was led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, the Pope’s lead surgeon, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, his personal physician.
While the Vatican has not disclosed specific details regarding the tumor size or potential lymph node involvement, the surgery may suffice as a curative measure if the cancer had not spread further. Dr. Serena Ricciardi, a lung cancer specialist, emphasized the possibility of a complete removal of the disease if no additional complications arise.
Pope Leo, known for his active lifestyle and absence of smoking habits, has received an outpouring of support from political leaders globally. Notable figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump, have expressed their well wishes for the speedy recovery of the pontiff.
