Pope Leo resumes some papal duties after surgery, Vatican says
Pope Leo XIV has resumed some work, the Vatican said Thursday, after he had a piece of his right lung removed and received a diagnosis of lung cancer.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV has resumed some papal duties after surgery to remove part of his right lung and a lung cancer diagnosis.
- The Vatican said Leo celebrated Mass around noon, read documents and met Archbishop Paolo Rudelli on Thursday.
- Leo is expected to leave Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Oct. 20 and hopes to lead the Angelus prayer from the hospital on Sunday.
Pope Leo XIV has resumed some papal duties after having part of his right lung removed and being diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this week, the Vatican said Thursday.
A Vatican spokesperson said the pope celebrated Mass around noon and began a small amount of work activity, including reading documents. He also met Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, undersecretary of state, on Thursday.
Hospital stay and recovery
Leo was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital and is set to be released on Oct. 20, one week after he was first admitted. The Vatican said his audiences are canceled through Oct. 20.
The pope underwent routine checkups on Thursday, including a chest X-ray, according to his personal physician Dr. Luigi Carbone and thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora, who led the operation. They said the X-ray showed good recovery of the operated lung and that his post-operative recovery is progressing as expected. The pope has also had at least one physiotherapy session.
We have a long tradition of popes — not just Pope Francis, but also Pope John Paul II, who had Parkinson's for 10 years — who continued to remain as active as they could, and as active in Catholic liturgies as they could, right up until the end of their tenures
— Candida Moss
Cancer diagnosis and upcoming plans
The Vatican announced Leo's lung cancer diagnosis on Tuesday following his surgery. It said preoperative tests had indicated the possible presence of cancer, and during the 90-minute operation a lobe of his right lung with a nodular lesion was removed. The Vatican has not shared other details, such as the cancer's stage or genetic makeup.
Leo is expected to travel to South America next month. The Vatican pointed to comments he made Sunday, when he said he is looking forward to going. The Vatican spokesperson said Leo would like to lead the Angelus prayer from the hospital on Sunday, but it is not yet clear whether that will happen.
What an expert said
Candida Moss, the Edward Cadbury professor of theology at the University of Birmingham in England, told CBS News on Wednesday that it is typical for popes to stick to their schedules even amid health issues. Vatican protocols call for the pope's cardinals and aides to take over as many duties as possible, Moss said.
