Pope Leo XIV Recovery Update: Vatican Says Pope Had a Good Night After Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV had a good second night in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, got up and had breakfast on Thursday morning, the Vatican said, as the 71-year-old pontiff's recovery from lung cancer surgery continues to proceed normally.

Main News Report

"The Pope had a good night in the hospital, got up and had breakfast," the Holy See Press Office said in its Thursday morning update, two days after Pope Leo underwent a successful operation to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican said the surgery, performed on Tuesday afternoon, was completed without complications.

The latest update follows an encouraging first full day of recovery on Wednesday, when scheduled blood tests and a chest X-ray came back within the expected range for this type of surgery. The Pope has also begun respiratory physiotherapy, has been walking around his hospital room, and has returned to a regular diet, eating both breakfast and lunch normally on Wednesday.

Background Context

Pope Leo announced his hospital admission during his Sunday prayers in St Peter's Square, telling the faithful that doctors had found a "well-contained" lung nodule at an early stage and had recommended its removal. During Tuesday's operation, which lasted about 90 minutes, tissue examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, as pre-operative tests had suspected. PakInsight Hub reported the diagnosis and surgery in detail yesterday: Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed with Lung Cancer, Undergoes Successful Surgery in Rome.

The Pope is being treated at Rome's Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, the facility traditionally used by pontiffs, which also cared for his predecessor Pope Francis. Leo, the first American-born pope, was elected in May 2025.

Reactions and Statements

The Holy See Press Office has issued brief daily updates since the operation, each stressing that the Pope's recovery is proceeding as expected and that there have been no complications. The surgical team explained on Tuesday that the intraoperative histological examination confirmed the adenocarcinoma diagnosis. The Vatican has not yet disclosed the size of the tumour or whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes, two key factors in deciding whether further treatment will be needed.

Messages of support and prayers for the Pope's recovery have continued to arrive from Catholic communities and world leaders, while the Pope's public schedule remains cancelled until 20 October.

Why This News Matters

The health of a pope is never a private matter: Leo leads the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, and his illness comes little more than a year after the death of Pope Francis, whose final years were marked by repeated hospital stays. A smooth recovery would allow Leo to resume a demanding programme of audiences, diplomacy and travel that has already been paused once. The coming pathology report matters most — it will show how advanced the cancer was and whether surgery alone is enough, or whether the Vatican must prepare the Church for a longer period of treatment and reduced activity.

Future Developments

The Vatican says the expected hospital stay of about one week has not changed, and further updates are expected later on Thursday. The full pathology report may not be available for several days. Once it is released, doctors will decide whether any additional treatment is required, and the Holy See is expected to announce when the Pope can resume his audiences after 20 October. PakInsight Hub will update this story as new information is released.

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