Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV does not need further cancer treatment after final medical tests confirmed that the disease in his right lung was localized, the Vatican said. The announcement provides an update on the Pope's recovery following surgery earlier this month.
The findings were announced on Wednesday, October 21, by Dr Luigi Carbone, the Pope's personal physician, and Professor Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who led the operation. A subsequent oncology assessment concluded that no additional treatment was necessary.
Pope Leo, 71, underwent surgery on October 13 at Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung after discovering a small nodule during medical examinations.
The final tissue examinations and molecular tests confirmed that the Pope had lung adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer. The doctors said the disease was localized. However, the Vatican has not released a detailed long term prognosis.
The Vatican had previously said that further tests were needed to determine whether additional treatment would be necessary. The latest assessment has clarified the immediate treatment plan, with doctors concluding that no further cancer therapy is currently required.
The operation was reported to have been successful, with no complications. Doctors used a video assisted surgical technique to remove the affected lower lobe of the right lung.
Following the procedure, the Pope remained in hospital while medical staff monitored his recovery. Vatican updates said he was eating, walking and receiving respiratory physiotherapy. Initial blood tests and chest imaging also indicated that his recovery was progressing normally.
Pope Leo was discharged from Gemelli Hospital on October 17 and returned to the Vatican. The following day, he appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace for the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer.
During the appearance, the Pope thanked those who had prayed for him and expressed gratitude to the medical staff who had cared for him. He also indicated that he would gradually resume his activities.
On October 21, he held his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square, marking another step in his return to public duties. However, his resumption of activities does not necessarily mean that his recovery is complete.
The latest medical findings are significant because the need for further treatment had remained uncertain while doctors awaited the final test results. The conclusion that no additional therapy is necessary clarifies the immediate medical plan following the operation.
The Vatican has not publicly provided a detailed cancer stage or a comprehensive long term prognosis. The finding that the disease was localized should therefore not be interpreted as confirmation that the Pope is permanently free of cancer.
Meanwhile, the Pope is scheduled to undertake an apostolic journey to South America from November 6 to 17. The planned itinerary includes Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Doctors have previously said there was no clinical reason to prevent the planned journey. However, the pace of the Pope's activities may depend on his recovery, and the latest medical announcement does not guarantee that every part of the itinerary will proceed unchanged.
For now, the medical assessment indicates that the Pope does not require further cancer treatment following surgery. He is continuing his recovery at the Vatican while gradually returning to his responsibilities as head of the Catholic Church.