A statement released by the Holy See Press Office on the afternoon of October 14 from Dr Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, the chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Hospital who performed the operation along with the medical team, have issued the following update on Pope Leo XIV's postoperative recovery:

This morning, the Holy Father underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled after surgery. The results confirm that his postoperative recovery is progressing normally: the values are within the expected range for the type of operation performed.

The Holy Father has undergone respiratory physiotherapy and has begun walking around his room. He has resumed eating normally and had breakfast and lunch.

Saint Peregrine’s story is one of profound transformation and physical healing. Born in 1260 to an affluent family in Forlì, Italy, Peregrine was the only son of a wealthy family, and even at one point actively opposed the papacy.

Yet, after experiencing the incredible mercy and forgiveness of Saint Philip Benizi, Peregrine’s heart was radically converted. He left behind a life of luxury and joined the Servite Order, became a priest, and devoted his life to penance, passionate preaching, and was known never to sit down spending hours hearing confessions.

Later in life, Father Peregrine developed a painful, incurable cancerous growth in his leg. On the night before doctors were scheduled to amputate the limb, Peregrine dragged himself to the foot of the cross. As he prayed in total unwavering faith in God, he experienced a mystical vision: Jesus came down from the crucifix and touched his diseased leg.

We should always be mindful of Christ’s love

Whoever lives in the presence of so good a friend and excellent a leader as is Jesus Christ can endure all things. Christ helps us and strengthens us and never fails; he is a true friend. And I see clearly that God desires that if we are going to please him and receive his great favors this must come about through the most sacred humanity of Christ, in whom he takes his delight.

Many, many times have I perceived this through experience. The Lord has told it to me. I have definitely seen that we must enter by this gate if we desire His Sovereign Majesty to show us great secrets. A person should desire no other path, even if he be at the summit of contemplation; on this road he walks safely. This Lord of ours is the one through whom all blessings come to us. He will teach us these things. In beholding his life we find that he is the best example.

What more do we desire than to have such a good friend at our side, who will not abandon us in our labors and tribulations, as friends in the world do? Blessed is the one who truly loves him and always keeps him near. Let us consider the glorious Saint Paul: it doesn’t seem that any other name fell from his lips than that of Jesus, as coming from one who kept the Lord close to his heart. Once I had come to understand this truth, I carefully considered the lives of some of the saints, the great contemplatives, and found that they hadn’t taken any other path: Francis, Anthony of Padua, Bernard, Catherine of Sienna. A person must walk along this path in freedom, placing himself in God’s hands. If His Majesty should desire to raise us to the position of one who is an intimate and shares his secrets, we ought to accept gladly.

As often as we think of Christ we should recall the love with which he bestowed on us so many favors, and the great things God showed in giving us a pledge like this of his love; for love begets love. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to waken ourselves to love. For if at some time the Lord should grant us the favor of impressing this love on our hearts, all will become easy for us and we shall carry out our tasks quickly and without much effort.

“Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”