Pope Leo XIV met with a top aide yesterday and resumed working from hospital, as doctors reported his lung had recovered well from surgery to remove a cancerous nodule. Source: NCR Online.
Pope Leo’s post-operative tests remained within normal levels and his physiotherapy session yesterday involved full mobility exercises, with the Pope going about his daily activities independently, said the update his personal doctor, Luigi Carbone, and the head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli hospital, Stefano Margaritora.
“The chest X-ray revealed good recovery of the operated lung,” they reported. “Overall, his postoperative recovery is proceeding as expected.”
Separately, the Vatican said Pope Leo had received the Vatican chief of staff, or “substitute”, Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, and had resumed working from the hospital.
Archbishop Rudelli handles much of the day-to-day administrative work of the Holy See.
For a second day, Pope Leo celebrated Mass with other priests in a special chapel set up near his room on the 10th floor of the hospital, spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
The 71-year-old Pope had the lower right lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
Doctors are still awaiting the results of tests to understand the precise molecular makeup of the cancer, whether it has spread beyond the lobe and whether any further treatment is necessary.
Asked if any changes to Pope Leo’s planned trip to South America from November 6-17 were expected, Mr Bruni pointed to Pope Leo’s words on Sunday when he announced the discovery of the nodule and impending surgery.
“Thank you for your prayers for the pastoral visit I will make to Peru,” Pope Leo said Sunday in Spanish, in a greeting delivered to a Peruvian group. The trip is also scheduled to include stops in Uruguay and Argentina.
Pope Leo is expected to remain hospitalised until at least October 20.
Meanwhile, well wishes continue to pour in for the Pontiff, including from Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB on behalf of Australia’s bishops.
“The bishops of Australia, together with our people, are united in our concern for you and in our desire to accompany you with our prayerful support as you confront the challenges ahead, following your recent surgery,” Archbishop Costelloe wrote in a letter to Pope Leo.
“There are very few families who do not know of the uncertainty and worry which accompanies a diagnosis of cancer for a loved one.
“At such times people of faith turn to prayer, seeking the gifts of courage, hope and healing for the one who is sick. You are the father of our Catholic family, our Holy Father, and we in Australia are praying in hope that the Lord, who loves each of his children dearly, will grant you these same gifts: courage, hope and healing.”
FULL STORY
Pope Leo resumes working, sees top aide in hospital as doctors say lung recovered from surgery (By Nicole Winfield and Colleen Barry, AP via NCR Online)
RELATED COVERAGE
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In hospital, Pope Leo’s tests show ‘good recovery of the operated lung,’ doctors say (OSV News)
