Pope Leo XIV is making a strong recovery. Following surgery on Tuesday, October 13, at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic - where the lower lobe of his right lung was successfully removed using video-assisted thoracic surgery - the Pontiff has quickly returned to an active schedule. Discharged this past Saturday, he is continuing his convalescence at the Apostolic Palace and presided over his traditional weekly general audience on Wednesday.

Despite his recovery, the Pope has remained deeply engaged in international diplomacy, recently holding a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to advocate for a truce in Oleshky and the safe evacuation of civilians. For now, a retreat to Castel Gandolfo is on hold; according to his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, recovery will require roughly another ten days. Dr. Margaritora also confirmed there are no clinical reasons preventing the Pope from undertaking his upcoming trip to South America next month, which will take Leo back to Peru, where he spent years serving as a missionary.

Meanwhile, reassuring news has arrived on the medical front. In a joint statement released by the Pope's personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and Professor Stefano Margaritora, final histological exams and molecular biology tests performed on the resected tissue were officially published. The report confirmed the initial diagnosis of a localized pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Crucially, a subsequent oncology evaluation concluded with overwhelmingly positive news for the Holy Father and the faithful worldwide: no further therapeutic treatment is necessary.