Pope Leo XIV walking in his room on his third day in a Rome hospital
The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV, 71, had a good night at Rome's Gemelli hospital and has begun walking in his room after surgery to remove a lung adenocarcinoma. He is expected to remain in the hospital for a week
Pope Leo XIV, 71, began his third day at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic on Thursday, October 15, after surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his lung. The Vatican said the pope "had a good night" at the hospital.
Vatican doctors said his recovery after the operation is proceeding normally. A statement the previous day said the pope had gotten up and eaten breakfast. He has now started walking inside his hospital room.
The Holy See is briefing the media through its Telegram channel and has promised regular updates as his recovery continues.
International reactions to the pope's health
President Donald Trump addressed the pope publicly at an event in Arizona on Wednesday, October 14. "I hope Pope Leo recovers. We just want to send him our love and our best wishes," Trump said. He added: "although the cancer diagnosis is serious, the prognosis appears to be favorable."
The surgery will require a week of hospitalization. The pope has canceled his audiences through October 20 and has handed the closing Mass to Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. The nodule was found during routine medical checks, not because of an emergency or a sudden decline in his health.
