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By Megan Cartwright, Toby Meyjes, and Gabe Whisnant
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Pope Leo XIV is eating, has begun walking and is doing respiratory exercises as he recovers from surgery to remove a cancerous nodule on his lung, the Vatican said.
In a statement from the Holy See Press Office released on Wednesday, Dr. Luigi Carbone and professor Stefano Margaritora said: "This morning, the Holy Father underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled after surgery. The results confirm that his postoperative recovery is progressing normally: the values are within the expected range for the type of operation performed.
"The Holy Father has undergone respiratory physiotherapy and has begun walking around his room. He has resumed eating normally and had breakfast and lunch. His recovery is proceeding as expected."
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Leo's diagnosis comes less than a year and a half after he became the first American pope, following Pope Francis' death in April 2025.
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Donald Trump Wishes Pope Leo ‘Get Better Fast'
President Donald Trump wished Pope Leo a speedy recovery Wednesday following news that the first American pope had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
“I want to see Pope Leo get well,” Trump told reporters before departing Arizona for his second rally of the day in Montana. Trump said Leo’s prognosis appeared positive, adding: “We just want to wish him our love and our best wishes.”
Trump also referenced the pope’s older brother, Louis Prevost, a registered Republican.
"His brother and his wife—they are big Trump supporters. I can say that his brother loves him a lot, loves the pope a lot,” Trump said. “And that’s good, that’s good enough for me. But I just want to wish him well. Get better fast.”
Earlier Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, also offered his support for the pope following his diagnosis.
“Our family continues to pray for the good health and full recovery of Pope Leo XIV,” Vance wrote on X. “May God grant him strength as he works to get better. I hope he knows that millions of American Christians are thinking about him.”
Vance also sent his best wishes to Louis Prevost, who is battling multiple myeloma, his wife told CBS news on Tuesday.
“We also want to send our best wishes to a true American original and great guy, Lou Prevost, who is also facing his own health challenges,” Vance wrote. “May God keep both of these brothers healthy for years to come.”
What Happened During Pope Leo's Surgery?
Leo underwent surgery at Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital after medical examinations detected a localized nodule in his lung.
The lower lobe of his right lung was removed using video assistance. The roughly 90-minute procedure was successful and there were no complications, according to the Vatican.
Surgeons confirmed that the growth was lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
Leo had disclosed the planned operation during his Sunday noon blessing, telling the public that the nodule had been found "at a very early stage" and was well localized.
"Following their advice, I have therefore decided to undergo an operation to remove it," he said.
Further medical assessments are expected to help determine whether any additional treatment will be required.
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What Could Diagnosis Mean?
Dr. Hiren Mehta, an interventional pulmonologist with the thoracic oncology group at University of Florida Health, previously told Newsweek that removing a lobe is a standard operation for lung cancer.
"A standard lung cancer surgery is called lobectomy, where an area of the lung with cancer and surrounding normal lung is removed," Mehta said.
If the disease is caught early, Mehta said there can be a "90 percent chance of being alive at 5 years."
Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine and surgery and an interventional cardiologist, separately told CNN that the precise stage of Leo's cancer was not yet known.
"Lung cancer caught very early can be completely cured," Reiner said, adding that advances including radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy mean the disease does not carry "nearly the kind of dire prognosis" it did a decade ago.
According to the National Cancer Institute, lung adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small-cell lung cancer that develops from glandular cells. Treatment and prognosis depend on factors including the cancer's stage, whether it has spread and characteristics of the tumor.
When Could Pope Leo Return to Public Duties?
The Vatican has canceled Leo's public engagements through October 20 while he recuperates. He is expected to spend approximately a week in hospital, The New York Times reported.
Per Reuters, it is not yet known if his planned November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru will go ahead.
The diagnosis has prompted messages of support from religious and political figures, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.
Leo was elected by the College of Cardinals in May 2025 following Francis' death on April 21 that year. His election made him the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Dave Siminoff.
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