Pope Leo XIV thanks faithful after lung cancer surgery, plans gradual return

Pope Leo XIV thanked thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday for their prayers while he was hospitalized for an operation to remove a malignant tumor from his right lung.

Four days after the surgery, which involved removing the lower lobe of his right lung, the 71-year-old pontiff said he plans to gradually resume his activities, with God’s help and the support of prayers.

He expressed particular gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Gemelli Hospital, where he was treated, and shared that the experience made him feel especially close to those facing illness and infirmity.

The surgery confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. Histological testing and molecular analysis of the tumor and lymph nodes are ongoing to determine if additional treatments such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy will be necessary.

Pope Leo XIV’s next major engagement is a planned trip in November to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, involving multiple flights and high-altitude helicopter rides.