Edward Marchesi Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Tuesday, October 13. The procedure, which lasted ninety minutes of resection and a total of three hours in the operating room, involved the removal of the lower lobe of the right lung . The first night was described as uneventful and without complications, allowing the Pontiff to rest in a protected environment.
The Pope's clinical update after lower lobe surgery
The director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced that the hospital stay is expected to last about a week, in line with the expectations made upon admission. On the morning of Wednesday, October 14, the Pope underwent routine tests: a blood test and a chest X-ray.
The results, reported as normal for the type of surgery performed, confirm a normal postoperative course . Furthermore, the Pope began respiratory physiotherapy , pacing his room, and resumed a full diet for breakfast and lunch.
Blood tests and X-rays: normal values
Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora emphasized that blood parameters and chest imaging show no signs of complications.
The analyses confirmed that the resection was radical and that the removed tissue was compatible with the preoperative diagnosis of adenocarcinoma without evidence of infiltration.
Respiratory physiotherapy and initial daily activities
The respiratory physiotherapy program was started on the first post-operative day to promote lung re-expansion and prevent complications. The Pope, in addition to pacing in his room, regularly ate breakfast and lunch, a sign of a gradual return to a normal eating routine . Bruni also confirmed that the Pontiff remains committed to his long-planned visit to South America from November 6 to 17 .
Lung adenocarcinoma: what it is and what are the treatment options?
Adenocarcinoma, the most common form of NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer), accounts for approximately 60% of lung cancer diagnoses and 85% of all cases. In Italy, in 2025, 27,100 new cases were recorded among men and 16,400 among women (Airtum data). This tumor typically develops in the small-diameter bronchi, in the peripheral portion of the lung, as in the Pope's case.
Diagnostic pathway and post-operative prognosis
Before surgery, the Pope underwent a robotic bronchoscopy with biopsy, a chest CT scan with contrast , and a PET scan . These tests allowed the nodule to be located and assessed for metastases. After resection, the treatment decision will depend on the final histological result, the tumor stage , and any lymph node involvement. If the cancer is localized and at an early stage, surgery can be curative, avoiding the need for chemotherapy.
Possible additional therapies and future prospects
In the case of lymph node involvement or residual margins, the multidisciplinary team (thoracic surgeon, oncologist, pulmonologist, pathologist, and radiologist) will evaluate the use of chemotherapy , radiotherapy, immunotherapy , or molecularly targeted drugs . Today's medicine offers a broader range of targeted treatments , including bispecific antibodies, mRNA vaccines, and immunomodulatory therapies, reserved for patients with specific genetic mutations. At this time, doctors have not indicated the need to initiate these therapies for the Pope, but they will continue to monitor his clinical progress.
The diagnostic workup allowed for an accurate evaluation of the adenocarcinoma, keeping open the possibility of complete remission without further oncological treatments.