The Pope is eating and walking around as he recovers from lung cancer surgery, Vatican reveals
Pope Leo XIV is recovering after surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his lung, with Vatican doctors saying he is eating normally and has started walking. The update suggests his recovery is proceeding as planned, while the Vatican waits for further test results to decide whether he needs additional treatment.
The 71-year-old pope had a 90-minute operation on Tuesday, during which doctors removed a lung lobe; the cancer was identified as lung adenocarcinoma. His audiences have been cancelled through 20 October, and his planned 6–17 November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru will depend on his recovery. The Vatican’s early disclosure also marks an unusually open approach to a pope’s health.
- Pope Leo XIV is walking and eating after lung cancer surgery.
- Doctors say his recovery is proceeding as planned.
- His November South America trip depends on his progress.
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The pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, which has about 1.4 billion members worldwide. His health can affect the Church’s public work and the Vatican’s plans for meetings and travel.
Lung adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that begins in the cells lining the lungs. Doctors may remove part of a lung to treat it; test results help determine whether further treatment is needed.
The Vatican is the governing body of the Catholic Church and provides updates about the pope’s health. Details about a pope’s medical condition have not always been shared publicly, so the amount of information released can attract attention.