ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV met with a senior official Thursday and returned to work from the hospital, with doctors saying his lung had recovered well. surgery to remove a cancerous nodule.
Leo’s post-operative tests remained within normal levels and his physiotherapy session on Thursday included full mobility exercises, with Pope going about his daily activities independently, said information from Leo’s personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and the head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital, Dr. Stefano Margaritora.
“Chest X-ray revealed good recovery of the operated lung,” they reported. “Overall, his post-operative recovery is going as expected.”
Separately, the Vatican said Leo received Vatican chief of staff, or “alternate,” Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, and resumed his work from the hospital. Rudelli handles much of the daily administrative work of the Holy See.
For a second day, Leo celebrated Mass with other priests in a special chapel set up near his room on the hospital’s 10th floor, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
Leo, 71, had the lower right lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. The operation confirmed he had adenocarcinomathe most common type of lung cancer.
Doctors are still waiting for the results of tests aimed at understanding the precise molecular makeup of the cancer, whether it has spread beyond the lobe and whether further treatment is needed.
Asked if there were any changes in Leo planned trip to South America November 6-17 were expected, Bruni highlighted Leo’s words on Sunday when he announced the discovery of the nodule and an imminent surgery.
“Thank you for your prayers for the pastoral visit I will make to Peru,” Leo said in Spanish on Sunday, in a greeting to a Peruvian group. The trip is also expected to include stops in Uruguay and Argentina.
Leo is expected to remain hospitalized until at least October 20.
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Barry reported from Milan.
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