Pope Leo XIV shows constant improvement in condition after lung tumor removal surgery

Pope Leo XIV reported 'constant improvement' in his condition following the surgical procedure to remove a malignant tumor in his lung, which was performed on Tuesday. On Friday, the Vatican issued a statement confirming that blood tests and a chest X-ray taken in the morning showed a stable improvement in the Pope's overall health.

According to the report, the Pope will continue receiving respiratory physiotherapy sessions, but his postoperative recovery allows him to perform daily activities independently. This Friday, Pope Leo XIV celebrated mass at noon in a hall prepared on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

The ceremony was attended by medical and nursing staff from the hospital, as well as representatives of the Vatican State Guard Corps. In his homily, the Pope thanked all specialists—doctors, nurses, and assistants—for their daily work caring for patients in a state of weakness, and specifically noted their contribution to his recovery.

Previously, on Thursday, the Vatican had already announced that routine examinations of the head of the Catholic Church yielded 'normal results,' and the chest X-ray showed good recovery. On Friday, the Associated Press (AP) reported that the Vatican decided to cease daily updates on the health status of Pope Leo XIV, as his recovery is proceeding calmly and within normal limits.

It is important to note that the Pope underwent surgery on Tuesday after a nodule was discovered in his lung. According to a medical bulletin published after the procedure, which lasted 90 minutes, the examination confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, the suspicion of which arose during preoperative examinations. The operation, usually performed under general anesthesia, required one week of hospitalization.

On Monday, the Vatican canceled all papal audiences until October 20, two weeks after the operation. Leo XIV became the head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide and the first American Pope in history on May 8, 2025, following the death of Argentine Pope Francis at the age of 88. Although his style is less lavish than his predecessor's, Leo XIV is gradually implementing his own approach to leading the Catholic Church, addressing pressing global issues such as deadly conflicts and artificial intelligence.

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noticiasaominuto.comOctober 13, 10:09

Vatican highlighted Pope Leo XIV's composure before announcing the upcoming operation

The Vatican Secretary of State noted Pope Leo XIV's calmness after he announced the need for surgery to remove a nodule in his lung, expressing confidence in a swift resolution to the situation.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, of Italian origin, told the media: 'We were all impressed by the composure with which the Pope announced this operation. We hope this issue will be resolved as soon as possible. We are confident, but naturally, we accompany him with our prayers.'

Parolin also reported that he met with Leo XIV on Tuesday afternoon and they spoke 'very calmly,' although he admitted to feeling worried himself.

The Vatican Secretary of State added that, thanks to God, the nodule was discovered in time, and such findings, when detected early, can usually be successfully removed.

The Pope publicly announced on Sunday after the Angelus prayer that he would undergo an operation to remove a nodule found at an early stage and well localized in his lung.

According to the Vatican press service, the discovery of the nodule occurred during a routine medical examination. The same sources reported that the Pope would be hospitalized today at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome by noon.

Due to the hospitalization, Leo XIV canceled all his audiences until next Tuesday, October 20, as a recovery period of about a week is expected.

noticiasaominuto.comOctober 12, 09:31

Pope Leo XIV to undergo surgery for lung nodule; public reaction

Pope Leo XIV unexpectedly announced to the faithful on Sunday during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican that he is scheduled for surgery to treat a small nodule in his lungs. In Portugal and other places, there was an immediate reaction with wishes for a full recovery.

Pope Leo XIV stated that a limited nodule was discovered in his lung during recent check-ups. He told those gathered in the Vatican: 'Recently, during some routine examinations, doctors found a limited nodule in my lung. I will be operated on in the coming days.'

The Supreme Pontiff specified that the lesion is in its early stages and is 'well localized.' He added that the doctors consider the operation necessary, and following their advice, he decided to undergo the procedure to remove the nodule, which is 'already scheduled for the coming days.' The Pope thanked the faithful for their spiritual closeness and asked them to pray for him.

A Vatican representative, Matteo Bruni, later confirmed that the operation is expected to take place in the first days of next week. In a brief statement, he also noted that the estimated hospital stay after the operation is about a week.

Reaction from Italian and Portuguese authorities

The first official reaction to the sudden announcement came from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She expressed 'personal and governmental closeness to the ordeal' that Leo XIV 'must face in the coming days,' according to the official statement.

Meloni highly praised the public nature of the announcement made by the Pope from the window of the Apostolic Palace. She noted: 'The calmness and serenity with which he spoke about this [operation] during today's Angelus comfort us. I am sure that the Italian people will offer him all support and affection.'

In Portugal, the Conference of Bishops of Portugal (CEP) also reacted to the news, asking for prayers for Pope Leo XIV. The CEP expressed its spiritual closeness to the Holy Father and prayed to God to enlighten and accompany the medical team performing the intervention, as well as wishing the Pope a swift and complete recovery. It called on Christian communities in Portugal to pray with him, trusting in God's grace.

Cardinal Americo Aguiar also expressed solidarity with Leo XIV. In a message published on the Diocese of Setúbal's page, the Portuguese cardinal conveyed to Leo XIV 'very sincere words of friendship, tenderness, solidarity, and above all, deep unity and prayer.' The Bishop of Setúbal emphasized that the announcement of medical assistance was made by the Pope himself with 'exceptional transparency, simplicity, truth, and humanity.'

Bishop José Ornelas, speaking to SIC Notícias, reported receiving the news about the Pope with 'anxiety,' but also 'with hope,' and 'in harmony with him and the situation in which he lives.' He reminded that the Pope asked the Church to pray for him, and that he is always in their hearts and prayers. Ornelas added that they pray to God that this episode will only be a temporary stage in his life's journey, without any other consequences.

First health warning for Leo XIV

This is the first decline in Leo XIV's health after 16 months of a demanding schedule. Despite his duties, the Pope tries to maintain a balance between official business and personal life. According to AFP, he enjoys tennis and swimming and dedicates Tuesdays, his weekly day off, to sports, private meetings, and reading in Castel Gandolfo.

Robert Francis Prevozt, born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, took charge of the Catholic Church in May 2025 under the name Leo XIV. He succeeded Francis, the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio, who was Pope from 2013 until his death on April 21, 2025.