Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has resumed some official duties while recovering in hospital after surgery for lung cancer, with doctors reporting encouraging progress in his condition. The Pope has also celebrated Mass in hospital on two consecutive days.
The 70 year old pontiff is receiving care at Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, where surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung on October 13. Examination of the tissue removed during the operation confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer.
The Vatican has reported that the Pope's recovery is progressing normally. Medical checks, including blood tests and chest X rays, have produced results within the expected range following the operation. The operated lung is also recovering well, according to the latest medical update.
The Pope has been able to walk independently, eat normally and take part in respiratory physiotherapy. He celebrated Mass in a specially prepared room at the hospital on Wednesday, October 14, and again on Thursday, October 15.
On Thursday, he also resumed administrative work and met Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, the substitute for General Affairs in the Vatican Secretariat of State. The meeting was part of the Pope's continued involvement in Church administration while he remains under medical care.
The latest developments offer encouraging signs about his recovery from surgery. However, the Vatican has not confirmed whether the surgery removed all the cancer. Further medical findings are needed to determine the extent of the disease and whether additional treatment will be necessary.
Pope Leo first disclosed on October 11 that doctors had identified a small, localised nodule in his lung and recommended surgery. At that time, the public announcement did not confirm that the growth was cancerous. The diagnosis became clear after the operation and examination of the removed tissue.
Lung adenocarcinoma is a common form of lung cancer. Confirmation of the diagnosis does not, by itself, establish the stage of the disease or whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Further medical findings will be important in determining the next steps in treatment.
The Vatican has not provided a complete public assessment of the cancer's extent or confirmed whether the Pope will require additional treatment. His ability to walk, eat, celebrate Mass and resume administrative duties is encouraging, but these activities alone cannot establish the full status of the disease.
The Pope is expected to remain in hospital for about a week, according to the previously announced medical outlook. His public engagements have been cancelled through October 20 as he continues to recover. The expected length of his hospital stay does not represent a confirmed discharge date.
Attention is also turning to his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. The Vatican has not announced a change to the itinerary in the latest reports available. However, the visit will depend on the Pope's recovery and medical advice, and it should not be considered certain until his travel plans are confirmed.
The Pope's decision to continue some administrative work during his hospital stay shows he remains involved in his office's responsibilities. Nevertheless, his immediate priority is recovery following major surgery.
For now, the latest medical reports support cautious optimism. Doctors have described his postoperative progress as normal, but the full implications of the confirmed cancer diagnosis and any further treatment requirements remain to be established.