Pope Leo XIV recovering at Gemelli Hospital after lung surgery
- Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Gemelli Hospital in Rome following a 90-minute thoracic surgery on Oct.
- The 71-year-old pontiff underwent the operation after doctors detected a pulmonary nodule in a very early stage.
- 14 confirmed that the pope's postoperative evolution is proceeding normally.
Pope Leo XIV is recovering at Gemelli Hospital in Rome following a 90-minute thoracic surgery on Oct. 13, during which doctors successfully removed the lower lobe of his right lung and diagnosed him with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. While Vatican medical bulletins report a normal postoperative recovery with the pontiff walking and eating, church officials across South America remain uncertain whether his scheduled November tour to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru will proceed.
Surgery at Gemelli Hospital Reveals Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma
The 71-year-old pontiff underwent the operation after doctors detected a pulmonary nodule in a very early stage. The pope announced the planned operation during a speech delivered over the weekend to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, indicating that the growth in his lung had been detected at an early stage. Surgeons Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora performed the procedure to guarantee a radical resection of the tumor, confirming through tissue examination that the nodule was an adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer originating in mucus-producing cells.
.@SecRubio: Jeanette y yo nos unimos en oración por la salud de @Pontifex_es tras su reciente diagnóstico. Que el Señor le de fortaleza y que el Espíritu Santo guíe a los profesionales médicos que atienden al Santo Padre. https://t.co/dIHyAWm6dQ
Postoperative Recovery and Public Messages from the Hospital Room
Medical bulletins released by the Holy See on Oct. 14 confirmed that the pope’s postoperative evolution is proceeding normally. The Holy See Press Office provides updated information on the health status of the pontiff, operated on this Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. The Holy See’s Press Office released a brief note early Wednesday morning following the operation to which Leo XIV was subjected on Tuesday, in which a malignant tumor was removed from his lung: The Pope has spent a quiet night.
The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, also informed journalists that the Pope’s mood is good. As you know, I have not been able to be among you during these days,
Leo wrote in the statement, asking the faithful to continue praying for him. The pope underwent routine blood tests and a chest radiograph on Oct. 14, practiced respiratory physiotherapy, walked around his hospital room, and resumed normal breakfast and lunch routines. A medical bulletin from the treating physicians reported that he has begun to walk around the room
and has resumed his normal diet.
Later, at 3:37 p.m., a new medical bulletin arrived conveying normalcy: This morning, the Holy Father underwent the scheduled blood tests and chest X-ray following the surgery.
Uncertainty Surrounding the November South American Tour
The pope’s public appearances have been canceled through Oct. 20 to allow adequate recovery time, raising questions about his upcoming international itinerary. Leo had planned to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Perú from Nov. 6 to Nov. 17. In Montevideo, Cardinal Daniel Sturla told the Uruguayan news program Telemundo that local preparations continue while officials await formal word from the Holy See. It is possible that perhaps the doctors will not let him come now, because he has to undergo some treatment, but that he can come later,
Sturla said, emphasizing that the pontiff’s health and medical advice remain the absolute priority.