Pope Leo resumes some papal duties as he recovers from lung surgery, Vatican says

October 15, 2026 / 12:00 PM EDT / CBS News

Pope Leo XIV has resumed some papal duties, the Vatican said Thursday, after he had a piece of his right lung removed and received a diagnosis of lung cancer earlier this week.

A spokesperson for the Vatican said the pope celebrated Mass around noon and began "a little bit of work activity," including reading documents. The pontiff also met with Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, undersecretary of state, on Thursday, the Vatican said.

Leo is set to be released from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Oct. 20, one week after he was first admitted.

The Vatican spokesperson said Leo would like to lead the Angelus prayer from the hospital on Sunday, but it's not clear yet whether that will happen.

Leo also underwent routine checkups, including a chest X-ray, on Thursday, according to personal physician Dr. Luigi Carbone and thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora. Margaritora led the operation on the pontiff. The X-ray showed "good recovery of the operated lung," the two said in a statement, and the pope's "post-operative recovery is progressing as expected."

The pope has also had at least one physiotherapy session, Carbone and Margaritora said.

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