Pope Leo cancels Assisi visit but doctors say South America trip remains possible

Pope Leo XIV is recovering as expected after surgery to remove part of his right lung, the Vatican says. The 71-year-old can walk around his hospital room and is eating normally, according to a report by Nieuws.nl citing ANP and Reuters. [1]

The operation took place on Tuesday. The lump removed from his lung was later found to be a malignant tumour, the report says. The Vatican had previously said it was detected at an early stage. Blood tests and an X-ray after surgery showed normal results, and Leo has received respiratory physiotherapy. [1]

The Pope is being treated at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. [1]

Update

Pope Leo XIV is recovering well after surgery to remove a cancerous lung tumour, the Vatican says, but has cancelled a planned visit to Assisi to avoid travelling by helicopter. Doctors say there is no medical reason he cannot make a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru scheduled to begin on 6 November.

Leo had been due to visit Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis, on 27 October. The cancer was found after doctors removed a nodule from his lung; it had not spread, according to a report by Nieuws.nl citing ANP and AFP.

The South American trip remains scheduled. Leo’s return to the Vatican after surgery and the reported diagnosis had raised questions about his recovery and travel plans.