Pope Leo XIV's doctors report good recovery of operated lung

Doctors treating Pope Leo XIV reported Oct. 15 that routine medical tests show the lung operated on during his recent cancer surgery is recovering well. In a joint statement, the pope's personal doctor, Luigi Carbone, and chief surgeon Stefano Margaritora said chest X-ray results taken that morning at Gemelli Hospital in Rome were normal.

The 71-year-old pope is recovering from the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung, a 90-minute video-assisted procedure performed on Oct. 13 to treat lung adenocarcinoma. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni noted that the pope has been performing daily activities independently, including some normal work tasks from his hospital room.

During his recovery, the pope has already begun resuming religious and physical duties. He concelebrated Mass in the hospital chapel on Oct. 14 and participated in a physical therapy session on Oct. 15 that included a full range of motor activities.