Pope Leo’s lung has recovered well from surgery and his postoperative tests are normal, doctors say

Pope Leo XIV’s lung has recovered well from surgery to remove a cancerous nodule, and he resumed working from the hospital on Thursday, his doctors and the Vatican reported.

Leo’s postoperative tests remained within normal levels and his physiotherapy session Thursday involved full mobility exercises, with the pope going about his daily activities independently, said the update from Leo’s personal doctor, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and the head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli hospital, Dr. Stefano Margaritora.

“The chest X-ray revealed good recovery of the operated lung,” they reported. “Overall, his postoperative recovery is proceeding as expected.”

Separately, the Vatican said Leo had resumed working from the hospital, looking at documents, and had for a second day celebrated Mass with other priests in a special chapel set up for him near his room on the 10th floor of the hospital.

The 71-year-old Leo had the lower right lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.

Doctors are still awaiting the results of tests to understand the precise molecular makeup of the cancer, whether it has spread beyond the lobe and whether any further treatment is necessary.

Asked whether any changes to Leo’s planned trip to South America on Nov. 6-17 were expected, spokesman Matteo Bruni pointed to Leo’s words on Sunday when he announced the discovery of the nodule and impending surgery.

“Thank you for your prayers for the pastoral visit I will make to Peru,” Leo said Sunday in Spanish, in a greeting delivered to a Peruvian group. The trip is also scheduled to include stops in Uruguay and Argentina.

Leo is expected to remain hospitalized until at least Oct. 20.

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As Leo continues with recovery, his brother, Louis Prevost, is being treated for blood cancer, a source close to the family told NBC Chicago.

Prevost said they’re optimistic the pope will rally.

“They caught it early enough, and he’ll be able to heal from the surgery and go on with his papal ministry,” he said in an interview with Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty.

Leo was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a type of non-small cell lung cancer, after doctors examined the nodule they removed from his right lung.

Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80% of all cases of the disease, according to the American Lung Association.