Pope Leo XIV was seen for the first time after lung cancer surgery amid a major recovery milestone
The Vatican has released the first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at the Gemelli Hospital, days after surgeons removed a lobe of his lung for adenocarcinoma.
A lung cancer surgeon talks about what Leo's pap operation suggests about his chances of recovery
Dr. Larry Robinson, an oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, reacts to the Pap diagnosis and how lung cancer can develop in people who have never smoked.
Pope Leo XIV is up and walking after having part of his lung removed.
After undergoing chest surgery on Tuesday, in which surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope's right lung, a biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, or lung cancer, according to the Vatican.
After the successful operation, the 71-year-old Pope spent four days at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy.
Dr. Mark Siegel: Pope Leo's lung surgery puts modern medicine on the side of faith
On Friday, the Vatican released the first photos of Pope Leo after the operation.
Standing by the altar in green vestments, the Pope is celebrating Mass in a makeshift chapel at the hospital where he is broadcasting Mass.
According to the press office of the Holy See, some members of Gemelli's medical and nursing staff and members of the Vatican City State Gendarmerie were present at the ceremony.
Pope Leo's lung tumor raises questions about cancer risk for non-smokers
"In his homily, the Pope thanked all the staff - doctors, nurses and carers - for what they do every day to care for the terminally ill and especially for what they have done and are doing for him," the statement said.
The Vatican also confirmed on Friday that the Pope's recovery was continuing with "a steady improvement in his general condition".
Dr. Luigi Carbone and Prof. Stefano Margaritura added that "Pop's postoperative defects allow him to perform normal daily activities completely independently."
Pope Leo plans to make his first public appearance after the operation on Sunday at the noon Angelus Mass, which he usually leads.
Have you never smoked? You may still be at increased risk for lung cancer
"Since he was a non-smoker and probably had very good underlying lung function, the loss of one lobe — when there are three lobes on the right side — should not have much effect on daily activity, especially with pain control," the doctor added.
About 80 percent of lung cancers occur in people who smoke or have smoked, said Robinson, who has not treated Pope. However, he noted that lung cancer also occurs among people who have never smoked—including about 10 percent of male patients and 25 percent of female patients.
"But [Pope] had surgery and a lobectomy, so that's usually only done with people who have localized disease, and he probably had localized disease," the doctor added. And we hope that this cancer is stage 1."
If the pap cancer is stage 1, the oncologist said, there is a "high chance" of cure - about 90%, depending on the size of the tumor. The fact that he went straight into surgery suggests that there was probably no evidence that the cancer had spread.
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"We'll have to wait for the pathology to determine if he needs additional treatment after that," Robinson said.
The pope's anticipated trip to South America in November is reportedly still on schedule, though his participation is in question based on his recovery.
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