Pope Leo XIV had a good night and ate breakfast at the hospital in Rome where he underwent surgery for a malignant lung tumor, the Vatican reported on Thursday, as it released new details regarding the pontiff’s progress following the procedure.
On Tuesday, the 71-year-old leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics underwent surgery at the Gemelli Hospital, where doctors removed a pulmonary nodule that proved to be a malignant tumor, according to information released by the Holy See.
“The Pope had a good night at the hospital. He has gotten up and had breakfast,” the Vatican stated in a brief message posted on Telegram, providing an update on the pontiff’s condition during his hospital stay.
On Wednesday, one day after the surgery, doctors reported favorable results from the initial tests performed on the pontiff. According to the Vatican, post-operative blood tests and a chest X-ray indicated a normal recovery process.
However, further tests are being conducted to determine whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. These studies will allow specialists to establish the exact stage of the disease and determine what treatments Pope Leo XIV might require.
According to specialists, the prognosis is favorable, as the entire lower lobe of his right lung was removed during the surgery. Nevertheless, the results of the additional examinations will be crucial for gaining a more precise understanding of the extent of the disease and the medical steps that may follow.
A Vatican source also reported that the pontiff even celebrated Mass on Wednesday in a room set up on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Hospital, where he remains hospitalized while recovering from the procedure.
