Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further Treatment After Lung Cancer Surgery.

 

Pope Leo XIV will not require further treatment following surgery for lung cancer after medical tests confirmed that the disease was localised, his doctors have announced.

The pope’s physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, and his surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, disclosed the results in a statement on Wednesday, saying a subsequent oncological assessment had determined that no additional therapy was necessary.

“The final histopathology and molecular testing reports on the tissue removed during the Holy Father’s surgery were issued today. The results confirmed that the tumour was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localised. A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary,” the doctors said.

The diagnosis was announced last week after the 71-year-old pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for surgery to remove a nodule from his right lung.

The procedure, which lasted approximately 90 minutes, involved removing the lower lobe of his right lung after tests confirmed that the growth was lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.

Pope Leo was discharged from the hospital on Saturday, four days after the operation, and briefly stopped to greet well-wishers as he left the hospital grounds.

He returned to his public duties on Wednesday, holding his first weekly general audience since the surgery in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

The pontiff waved to the large crowd gathered in the square from his popemobile and blessed children lifted towards him by members of the faithful.

His appearance marked a return to the usual public engagements as he continues his recovery at the Vatican.

The Vatican has also indicated that the pope is expected to travel to South America in November, with Uruguay, Argentina and Peru among the planned destinations. His doctors have reportedly found no clinical reason to prevent him from undertaking the trip.