News Article
Published
Oct 21, 2026 at 04:12 PM EDT
Pope Leo XIV will not need further cancer treatment following surgery to remove a tumor from his right lung, the Vatican said Wednesday, after final tests confirmed it was a localized lung adenocarcinoma.
The pope's personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, said in a statement that results of the final post-operative tests on tissue removed during the pope's surgery confirmed the initial diagnosis and that the cancer had not spread.
"Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora communicate the following regarding the Pope's post-operative recovery: Today, the final histological examinations and molecular biology tests on the material removed during the Holy Father's surgery were reported. The results confirmed that the tumor was a localized lung adenocarcinoma. A subsequent oncological evaluation confirmed that no further treatment is necessary," the statement reads.
The pope had the lower lobe of his right lung removed to ensure the cancer was fully removed.
Further treatment may be needed if follow-up tests show that the cancer has spread or has signs of being particularly aggressive. Surgery alone can be enough when tumors are caught very early, often before they grow large or cause symptoms.
This is a breaking news story. Updates will follow.
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