Pope Leo back on his feet after shock cancer diagnosis
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo's recovery from surgery is progressing as expected and he has begun walking in his hospital room and eating normally, the Vatican said on Wednesday, after doctors announced the 71-year-old pontiff was being treated for lung cancer. World leaders, Catholics across the globe and senior cardinals at the Vatican have offered prayers for Leo after he had part of his right lung…
Vatican City - The recovery of Pope Leo, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, is proceeding as expected, according to the Vatican. The 71-year-old pontiff has started walking in his hospital room and eating normally following surgery on Tuesday, in which a portion of his right lung was removed. World leaders, Catholics across the globe, and senior cardinals at the Vatican have been offering prayers for Leo since the news broke.
Blood tests and a chest X-ray conducted on Wednesday revealed normal post-operative results, and the pontiff has been undergoing respiratory physiotherapy. The diagnosis of cancer for a pope of Pope Leo's age and energy, who was elected in May 2025, came as a shock and raised questions about the potential impact on his papacy. Despite his current health challenges, the Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo's planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, scheduled for November 6 to 17, remains unchanged.
However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori expressed her concerns regarding the situation on Wednesday.
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- Pope Leo back on his feet after shock cancer diagnosis koreatimes.co.kr
- What we know about the Pope's lung cancer diagnosis bbc.co.uk
