Health & Lifestyle · 6 Intermediate · October 17, 2026

Pope Returns to Duties After Lung Surgery

Photo: MART PRODUCTION via Pexels

Listen

Vocabulary

underwent surgery ˌʌndərˈwɛnt ˈsɜrdʒəri verb phrase

had a medical operation performed by doctors

Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove part of his right lung.

nodule ˈnɑdjul noun

a small lump or bump in the body that doctors can detect during medical tests

Doctors found a nodule in the Pope's lung during medical testing.

caught it at an early stage ˈkɔt ɪt æt ən ˈɜrli steɪdʒ verb phrase

discovered a disease or health problem before it became serious

The doctors had caught it at an early stage, which improved the Pope's chances of recovery.

remained conscious rɪˈmeɪnd ˈkɑnʃəs verb phrase

stayed awake and aware after anesthesia wore off following surgery

The Pope remained conscious after the operation and spent a peaceful night recovering.

makeshift ˈmeɪkʃɪft adjective

temporary and created quickly using available materials

He celebrated Mass in a green robe at a makeshift altar on the hospital's tenth floor.

ceasefire ˈsisfaɪr noun

a temporary stop to fighting agreed upon by both sides in a conflict

The Pope telephoned President Putin to urge a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky.

Article

Pope Leo XIV, a 71-year-old pontiff born in Chicago, underwent surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital to remove part of his right lung after doctors found a nodule. Medical tests revealed the growth was lung cancer, though doctors had caught it at an early stage. The Vatican announced the procedure was successful and proceeded without complications. The Pope remained conscious after the operation and spent a peaceful night recovering in his hospital room.

First Images and Hospital Work

On Friday, three days after surgery, the Vatican released the first photographs of Pope Leo since his operation. The images showed him celebrating Mass in a green robe at a makeshift altar on the hospital's tenth floor. He stood with medical and nursing staff, thanking them for their dedicated service. Doctors reported steady improvement in his condition, with chest X-rays showing good recovery of the lung tissue that remained after the procedure.

Diplomatic Efforts Continue

Despite his recovery, Pope Leo remained engaged with global affairs. From his hospital bed, he telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, where thousands faced severe shortages of food and water. The Kremlin responded positively, indicating willingness to cooperate on delivering humanitarian aid. Medical experts expected the Pope to remain hospitalized for approximately one week before resuming normal activities.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think the Vatican chose to release photographs of the Pope celebrating Mass so soon after his surgery?
The Pope telephoned President Putin while recovering in the hospital. What does this suggest about his priorities and role, even during illness?
Doctors described the cancer as caught at an early stage. How might the timing of detection have affected the Pope's prognosis and treatment options?
The Vatican emphasized that the Pope had shown no symptoms before surgery. Why might this detail be important for the public to know?
What challenges might a world leader face when trying to balance personal medical recovery with diplomatic and spiritual responsibilities?

Open the full interactive lesson with tap-to-hear on every word →

Ready to speak English with real confidence?

Work 1-on-1 with Digby R. Kerr.

Claim Your Free 30-Min Class