Pope Leo XIV has begun walking in his room at the Gemelli Polyclinic, has resumed eating regularly, and his post-operative recovery is proceeding as expected. Following surgery on his right lung, performed yesterday to remove a malignant tumor, the Pontiff is recovering well. "The Pope is well, his spirits are good," said Matteo Bruni, Director of the Vatican Press Office, illustrating the medical bulletin released today. Blood tests and a chest X-ray, performed this morning as scheduled after the operation, confirmed a normal recovery. "The results confirm a normal post-operative recovery: the values are within the normal range for the type of surgery performed," the bulletin states. The Holy Father also underwent respiratory physiotherapy and "resumed a regular diet, eating breakfast and lunch." "His recovery is proceeding as expected."
Regarding hospital stay, the initial estimate of "about a week from the time of admission" remains valid, Bruni confirmed in response to journalists' questions. It remains unclear whether the Pope will be able to depart for his trip to South America scheduled for November, with stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. "We have heard the Pope's words, his intention and desire to go. Then we'll see," said the director of the Vatican press office. At the Angelus on Sunday, October 11, before the announcement of his surgery, Leo XIV greeted the Peruvians gathered in St. Peter's Square, thanking them for their prayers in preparation for the trip, which, he assured, "I will make" to Peru.
The operation, performed yesterday at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, was successful and without complications. The Pope underwent thoracic surgery for lung adenocarcinoma, a malignant tumor that had been identified during a routine checkup after his trip to France. The diagnosis, expected after pre-operative tests, was confirmed by histological examination performed during the procedure.
The Pope's personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and Professor Stefano Margaritora, who led the surgical team, explained the operation. "The Holy Father underwent thoracic surgery as planned. To make the procedure radical, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using video-assisted surgery," they announced. Not only the nodule was removed, but the entire lower lobe of the right lung. "The extemporaneous histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected by the pre-operative tests."
The Pope remained in the operating room for about three hours, while the actual surgery lasted about 90 minutes. "The operation was successful and there were no complications," was the doctors' conclusion. After waking up normally, Leo XIV returned to his room on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Hospital, following a brief observation period. "The Pope also requested dinner," Bruni reported yesterday.
The surgical team consisted of seven doctors and was led by Professor Margaritora, assisted by Professor Elisa Meacci, Dr. Maria Teresa Congedo, and Dr. Leonardo Petracca Ciavarella. The anesthesiology team included Professor Massimo Antonelli, Dr. Giovanni Punzo, and Dr. Giuseppe Bello.
The news of the operation, announced by the Pope himself at Sunday's Angelus, had caused concern in the Church and among the faithful. Leo XIV, 71, arrived at the Gemelli Hospital shortly after 1:00 PM yesterday, appearing smiling and serene. Alongside him throughout the day were his secretaries, Father Edgar and Father Marco, and the Peruvian nuns who care for him.
(Unioneonline/D)