Pope Leo XIV resumed his daily duties from Gemelli Hospital on Thursday while awaiting medical test results to guide his lung cancer treatment. The 71-year-old pontiff is recovering from a Tuesday surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from the lower right lobe of his lung. According to his medical team, including personal doctor Dr. Luigi Carbone and thoracic surgery head Dr. Stefano Margaritora, a chest X-ray showed the operated lung is recovering well and postoperative tests remain within normal ranges.
The Vatican reported that the pope is currently reviewing documents and celebrated Mass for a second day in a chapel on the hospital’s 10th floor. During a physiotherapy session on Thursday, he performed full mobility exercises and was able to handle his daily activities independently. While the surgery confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, doctors are still waiting for molecular tests to determine if the cancer has spread and if additional treatment is required.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni has not announced any changes to the pope's scheduled trip to South America from November 6–17, which includes stops in Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina. On the Sunday prior to his surgery, the pope requested prayers for the upcoming pastoral visit. Former Vatican newspaper editor Giovanni Maria Vian stated that the pope likely knew of the suspected mass before a late September trip to Lourdes, France, but chose to schedule the surgery for a Tuesday, which is typically his day off.
For the Catholic faithful and residents of Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina, the pope’s recovery determines the status of a multi-nation diplomatic and religious event. If the cancer is found to have spread, the cancellation or postponement of this visit would impact local organizers, security services, and pilgrims who have planned travel for the November 6–17 window. Furthermore, a prolonged recovery or the need for treatment would shift day-to-day administrative burdens to other Vatican officials and potentially slow the issuance of papal documents or appointments.
The concrete change for the pope involves his current confinement to the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital, where he is expected to remain until at least October 20, 2026. While he has resumed reviewing documents, his ability to return to the Apostolic Palace and resume full public audiences depends on the recovery of his lung capacity following the removal of a lobe. The next significant milestone is the release of the molecular pathology reports, which will establish the final diagnosis and the long-term timeline for his return to full duties.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to remain hospitalized through at least Tuesday, October 20. The results of the molecular tests that will determine future treatment steps have not yet been released. The pope's scheduled visit to South America is currently set to begin on November 6, 2026.