Pope Leo back on his feet after shock cancer diagnosis

VATICAN AND AI. Pope Leo looks on on the day of the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on September 23, 2026.

Remo Casilli/Reuters

Blood tests and a chest X-ray show normal post-operative results, the Vatican says, adding that the pontiff had undergone respiratory physiotherapy

AT A GLANCE

• Pope Leo is recovering well from lung cancer surgery, having begun walking and eating normally, with doctors reporting positive post-operative results.
• World leaders and Catholics are offering prayers for his recovery, while his upcoming tour of South America remains planned, though dates may change based on his health.
• The pope's surgery involved the removal of part of his lung, and while the prognosis depends on whether the cancer has spread, specialists suggest the operation may be curative if no further issues arise.

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VATICAN – Pope Leo‘s recovery from surgery is progressing as expected and he has begun walking in his hospital room and eating normally, the Vatican said on Wednesday, after doctors announced the 71-year-old pontiff was being treated for lung cancer.

World leaders, Catholics across the globe and senior cardinals at the Vatican have offered prayers for Leo after he had part of his right lung removed in an operation on Tuesday, October 13.

Blood tests and a chest X-ray carried out on Wednesday, October 14, showed normal post-operative results, the Vatican said, adding that the pontiff had undergone respiratory physiotherapy.

The cancer diagnosis for a pope known to be relatively young and energetic and who was elected only in May 2025 caused shock and raised questions about the future shape of his papacy as he deals with the illness.

Leo normally follows a very busy schedule. He is due to make a tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17 and the Vatican press office said on Wednesday that “nothing has changed” regarding the planned trip.

However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said on Wednesday that the dates could change because of the amount of time his recovery would take.

The pope is the ultimate earthly authority for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and does not have a deputy who steps in when he is sick. When a pope is incapacitated, the business of the Vatican’s vast bureaucracy carries on as usual, holding off on any decisions that require papal approval.

Prayers for Leo

A prayer was recited for Leo to have a good convalescence and complete healing during an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday following the surgery.

The pope has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung during Tuesday’s operation in an effort to eliminate all cancerous tissue.

Human lungs have five lobes — three in the right lung and two in the left.

The operation lasted about 90 minutes and was completed without complications, the pope’s lead surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, said late on Tuesday.

The Vatican has not disclosed the size of the tumor or whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes, key factors in determining prognosis.

Dr. Serena Ricciardi, a lung cancer specialist at Rome’s San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, said that if the cancer had not spread to Leo’s lymph nodes, the surgery may have been sufficient for treatment.

“If there are no further issues or lymph node involvement, we could consider the surgery curative,” she told Reuters. “The disease has been completely removed.”

Leo is relatively young for a Church leader. He enjoys sports, including tennis, and is not known to be a smoker or to have had recent health issues.

Engagements canceled until next week

The Vatican said this week that the pope was expected to remain in hospital for about a week and that all his public engagements had been canceled until October 20.

The Mass on Wednesday was the closing act of an assembly of bishops called by Leo to discuss the Church’s family life teachings, the largest gathering of Church leaders so far during this papacy.

Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle led the service in place of Leo. The pope last week approved Tagle as the dean of the Church’s College of Cardinals, in the first selection of an Asian cleric to the elite role.

Political leaders offered messages of support.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and his wife Jeanette were praying for the pope, an American who was born in Chicago.

“May the Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy Father,” he said on X. Rubio met Leo at the Vatican in May.

US President Donald Trump, who has criticized the Roman Catholic Church leader, said on Wednesday he hoped that Pope Leo would “get better fast.”

“I want to see Pope Leo get well,” Trump told reporters. “I just want to wish him well, get better fast.” – Rappler.com