Illustrative photo · Blackcat / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 it
Pope Leo XIV is currently recovering in Rome's Gemelli Hospital following a successful surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his lung, according to a statement from the Vatican.
The Pope, aged 71, is under the care of his physicians, Dr Luigi Carbone and Dr Stefano Margaritora, who have reported that his post-operative tests are normal and that he is actively participating in physiotherapy with complete mobility exercises.
Dr Carbone and Dr Margaritora confirmed that a chest X-ray revealed good recovery of the Pope's operated lung, and his overall post-operative progress is as expected.
While recovering, Pope Leo has resumed some of his duties. He met with Vatican chief of staff Archbishop Paolo Rudelli to continue handling administrative affairs of the Holy See.
He has also celebrated Mass for the second consecutive day with fellow priests in a special chapel arranged nearby his hospital room.
The Pope underwent surgery on Tuesday after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule, later confirmed as adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. Doctors are awaiting further test results to better understand the cancer's molecular characteristics.
Last month, Pope Leo drew a substantial crowd during a Mass in Paris, prior to announcing his upcoming surgery. It remains uncertain if the Pope will proceed with his planned visit to South America next month.
Pope Leo had addressed a Peruvian group last Sunday, expressing gratitude for their prayers for his scheduled pastoral visit, which includes stops in Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina.
He is expected to stay at the hospital at least until next Tuesday as part of his recovery process.
