Pope walking and recovering 'as expected' after surgery, doctors say

What the report says

Pope Leo XIV is recovering after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, with Vatican doctors saying his condition is progressing as expected. In an update shared through the Vatican, the medical team said the 71-year-old had begun walking again, resumed a normal diet and was responding normally after the operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

According to the BBC’s report, the procedure took about 90 minutes and was described by the Vatican as successful and free of complications. Blood tests, an X-ray and respiratory physiotherapy on Wednesday were also said to show a normal recovery. The pontiff is expected to remain in hospital for around a week while he continues to recuperate.

The Vatican said the entire lower lobe was removed to make the operation as thorough as possible. The Pope had previously told worshippers in St Peter’s Square that doctors had found a small growth on his lung and recommended surgery. After the tissue was examined, the medical team confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer, and said further tests were being done to check whether it had spread.

The diagnosis has drawn attention because of the Pope’s role and because of memories of earlier papal health concerns. More broadly, lung adenocarcinoma is one of the more common types of lung cancer, and outcomes often depend on how early it is found and the patient’s overall health.