NewzPope Leo had an operation on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, and will hold his first public engagement since surgery on Sunday. VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo’s surgeon told Vatican media on Saturday that there were “no clinical reasons” to prevent him from traveling to Latin America as scheduled Nov. Stefano Margaritora said “the Holy Father has put his heart and soul into his recovery” and said he expected the pope to recover fully from surgery “in another 10 days or so.”“As for a long trip involving air travel in about three weeks, I would say there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place,” he told told Vatican News.The interview was published shortly after the pope returned to the Vatican on Saturday, four days after Margaritora removed the lower lobe of his right lung, where a cancerous nodule had been located.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.
AP’s earlier story follows below.Pope Leo returned to the Vatican on Saturday, four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where dozens of well-wishers saw him off with cries of “Holiness.”“I am much better, thank you,” the pope said when asked how he was as he was driven away in a black SUV.Leo, 71, greeted patients inside the hospital alongside his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, before waving to well-wishers outside as he walked to a waiting vehicle.He paused when a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl presented him with a homemade papal doll that she said had helped her through successful cancer treatment. She had briefly met Leo at an audience in St.
Peter’s Square last December—an encounter she told reporters “gave her the strength to overcome the illness.”Ten minutes after driving away from the hospital, the pope entered the gates of the Vatican. He is set to resume some duties on Sunday, when he greets the faithful with the traditional Angelus blessing, exactly one week after he announced to throngs in St. Peter's Square that doctors had found a nodule on his lung — an unusually candid disclosure for a pontiff.Leo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday.
The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.Since the surgery, Leo has shown signs of recovering well. He had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, held meetings with senior aides and celebrated Mass in a makeshift hospital chapel.Medical bulletins from his personal physician and surgeon also described a good postoperative recovery, saying he had … Pope Leo left Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Saturday after successful lung cancer surgery
The Vatican had initially estimated a weeklong hospital stay and canceled his audiences through Tuesday. Experts said patients could be discharged earlier depending on their recovery. Pope Leo XIV is being released from the hospital on Saturday, four days after lung cancer surgery, and will deliver the traditional noon blessing Sunday from a window overlooking St.
Peter's Square, the Vatican announced.The 71-year-old Leo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. Peters Square that doctors had identified a nodule on his lung, and that it would be removed.Since the surgery on Tuesday that confirmed the cancer diagnosis, Leo has given strong indications that he was recovering well, including by holding a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meeting with top aides and celebrating Mass in a makeshift hospital chapel.Medical bulletins from his personal physician and surgeon likewise indicated a good post-operative recovery that had allowed him to carry on normal daily activities completely on his own.The Vatican on Friday released the first images of Leo since his surgery, showing him standing up at an altar in a hospital chapel in green vestments, as doctors said that tests confirmed his continued improvement.Leo presided alone over the liturgy, distributing Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes present, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. He also delivered a homily in which he thanked the hospital staff for the work they do every day taking care of the sick in their fragility, and in a particular way what they had done for him, Bruni said.The Vatican had originally estimated a weeklong hospital stay, and canceled his audiences through Tuesday.
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