Pope Leo Needs No Further Lung Cancer Treatment

Pope Leo XIV does not need additional treatment after surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his right lung, according to doctors and a statement shared by the Vatican. Tests on the tissue removed during the operation confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, but also showed that the disease was localised. A subsequent oncological assessment concluded that no further treatment was necessary. The 71-year-old Pope underwent the 90-minute procedure on 13 October, during which surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung. He had previously told people gathered for his Sunday prayers that doctors had found a lung nodule and that it had been detected at an early stage. He was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital over the weekend, four days after surgery, and stopped to greet well-wishers as he left. On Wednesday, Leo returned to St Peter’s Square to hold his first weekly general audience since leaving hospital. Images released on Friday had shown him celebrating Mass in hospital, wearing green vestments and standing behind a makeshift altar. The article also reports on the Pope’s recent diplomatic calls. On Friday, he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in Ukraine, so food aid could be delivered, and calling for dialogue and peace. He also spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday. People close to the Pope have said he hopes not to postpone a planned trip to Latin America in early November.

Pope Leo will not need additional treatment following surgery for lung cancer, according to a statement released by the Vatican on Wednesday. Histological examination of the removed lung tissue confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer, but doctors said the disease remained localized. The Pope’s lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said a subsequent oncology evaluation found no further therapy was required. Eight days after surgery on Oct. 13, the 71-year-old Pope returned to St. Peter’s Square for his first general audience since the operation. He rode in an open-air Popemobile, waved to pilgrims, blessed babies and delivered a sermon in Italian. He gave brief greetings in seven other languages, fewer than the nine he had used on previous occasions. In his opening remarks, he thanked people for their prayers and support. The article also notes that Pope Leo is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17. The planned journey is described as one of the most intense trips arranged for a Catholic leader in decades, though it is not yet clear whether it will proceed as scheduled. His lead surgeon said he saw no clinical reason the visit should not take place and believed the Pope would be well enough to travel.

Pope Leo XIV will not require additional treatment following surgery for lung adenocarcinoma, according to his physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora. They said test results confirmed that the cancer was localized and that a subsequent oncological evaluation found no further therapy was needed. The pope’s diagnosis became public the previous week, after he was admitted to a Rome hospital for an operation initially described as the removal of a lung nodule. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung in a procedure lasting about 90 minutes. Margaritora later told Vatican News that doctors discovered the malignant tumor by chance. A small spot at the base of the pope’s lung appeared during an examination conducted for another reason, rather than during preventive cancer screening. The surgeon said it might not have been detected if it had been located higher in the lung. The 71-year-old pope left the hospital on Saturday, four days after surgery, and was welcomed by a cheering crowd. He delivered his customary Sunday noon prayer at the Vatican, thanking supporters for their prayers and hospital staff for their care. Leo said his illness had brought him closer to people living with illness or infirmity, and that he would gradually return to his duties after overcoming the delicate phase of his recovery. Leo is recuperating at the Vatican and held his regular general audience on Wednesday, greeting the crowd from the popemobile and blessing children. The Vatican said he is expected to travel to South America in early November.

Pope Leo XIV does not require additional cancer treatment following surgery on his right lung, according to an update from his doctors. Final histological tests and molecular biology analyses of the tissue removed during the operation confirmed a localised pulmonary adenocarcinoma. A subsequent oncological assessment found that the disease had not spread beyond the lung and concluded that no further therapy was necessary. The update was provided by the Pope’s doctors, Dr Luigi Carbone and Prof Stefano Margaritora, who also reported on his postoperative progress. The findings follow the Pope’s public disclosure during the Angelus prayer on 11 October that he had a nodule in his right lung. He was admitted to hospital and underwent surgery on 13 October. The operation lasted approximately an hour and a half. The article reports the test results and medical assessment without describing a need for ongoing treatment or providing further details about the Pope’s recovery.

Pope Leo XIV will not need additional treatment after surgery to remove a tumor from his right lung, his doctors announced Wednesday. Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said final histopathology and molecular test results confirmed the tumor was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent cancer assessment concluded that no further treatment was necessary. The pope underwent the operation on October 13 at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The procedure lasted about 90 minutes, and he spent roughly three hours in the operating room. The Holy See said the surgery was successful, without complications; Leo awoke normally and returned to his hospital room after a short observation period. He was discharged on Saturday after blood tests and a chest X-ray showed he was well enough to return to the Vatican. Thousands of supporters gathered outside the hospital as he left, calling out “Papa!” During his stay, Leo also visited the children’s oncology ward, where young patients had sent him letters. One, from a girl named Eleonora, offered prayers for his protection and expressed gratitude that her own health had improved. Her mother told the pope that Eleonora was now healthy. The article reports the medical update and recovery, while noting the public and personal expressions of support surrounding the pope’s hospitalization.

Pope Leo XIV will not need further treatment for lung cancer, the Vatican said after post-operative tests confirmed that the disease was confined to the removed tissue and had not spread. The 71-year-old pope underwent surgery last week to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after doctors found adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. He left Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday, four days after the operation, and plans to resume his activities gradually. The pope’s physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, said final tests on the removed tissue confirmed the diagnosis. A subsequent oncology assessment found no need for additional treatment. Doctors may recommend further care when tests show spread, including to lymph nodes, or other signs that a cancer could be aggressive. In this case, the nodule was reportedly spotted by chance during routine abdominal examinations, and the pope had no symptoms. Lung cancer specialist Dr. Stephen Liu said the information suggested stage I disease, for which surgery can be highly effective and potentially curative. Leo continued working during his hospital stay, including speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since surgery, he has appeared at two public events at the Vatican, including the Sunday blessing and a Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square, where he thanked people for their prayers. His next major engagement is a Nov. 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Margaritora said there was no clinical reason to prevent the trip, despite its flights, helicopter rides and high-altitude stops. The pope disclosed on October 11 that a lung nodule would be removed, an unusually open announcement that departed from the traditional secrecy surrounding papal health.

Pope Leo returned to St. Peter’s Square on October 21 for his first general audience since undergoing surgery for lung cancer eight days earlier. The 71-year-old pope rode through the square in an open-air popemobile, waving, smiling, speaking with pilgrims and blessing babies. He thanked the crowd for its support and prayers and urged people to trust in God’s goodness and mercy, but did not directly discuss his health. The audience followed its usual format, although Leo gave greetings in seven languages rather than the nine used on previous occasions. His return comes after doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung on October 13. He has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Doctors say the operation was successful and without complications, but have not disclosed the tumor’s size or whether the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes. The diagnosis, announced only months after Leo’s election in May 2025, prompted concern about the future shape of his papacy. The Vatican has not announced his schedule beyond Wednesday. A planned November 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru remains uncertain. The pope’s lead surgeon has said Leo could recover in time for the trip, while the Vatican secretary of state has suggested he may need to reduce the pace of his duties during recovery. The article presents the public appearance as a sign of Leo’s gradual return to work, while emphasizing that his health outlook and upcoming schedule remain unclear.

Pope Leo XIV will not require additional cancer treatment after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, his doctors announced Wednesday. The Vatican said final examinations of the removed tissue confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, but showed that the disease remained localized and had not spread. The pope underwent surgery on October 13 and was discharged from hospital on Saturday. He is gradually returning to his usual responsibilities and attended his weekly audience with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday. The announcement leaves open whether Leo will make a planned November 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. His lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, said the previous week that there were no clinical reasons preventing the trip. However, the Vatican secretary of state has suggested the pope may need to modify the pace of his schedule while recovering. The article reports no decision on the trip, and describes the story as developing.