The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will not require further cancer treatment after surgery successfully removed the affected tissue from his left lung.
The update was contained in a medical bulletin released by the Vatican press office on Wednesday following the completion of laboratory tests on tissue removed during the pontiff’s surgery last week.
According to the bulletin, the tests confirmed that the pope had pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer, but the disease was localised.
“The results have confirmed that the condition was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized,” the bulletin stated.
It added that a subsequent assessment by cancer specialists found no need for additional treatment.
“A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required,” the statement said.
Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for about 40 per cent of cases. It can also affect people who have never smoked and may develop relatively slowly.
Pope Leo announced on October 11 that he needed surgery for a lung nodule, raising concerns about his health.
Doctors subsequently removed the affected lobe of his left lung during his hospital stay in Rome. He returned home on October 17.
The following day, the pontiff made his first public appearance since the diagnosis, leading the Sunday Angelus prayer from the balcony of the Apostolic Palace.
Reflecting on his experience, Leo told worshippers: “This experience has given me a profound sense of closeness to all those who are going through illness or a state of infirmity.”
CNN reported that the pope’s recovery had been faster than is typical after such an operation, citing Dr Juanita Mora, a national medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association who was not involved in his treatment.
Mora said doctors would likely continue monitoring the pontiff through follow-up CT scans every three to six months during the first few years, before moving to annual checks to detect any possible recurrence.
She added that patients recovering from similar procedures often undergo respiratory physiotherapy to help restore their breathing capacity.
The Vatican’s announcement comes ahead of the pope’s planned South American trip next month, which is expected to include visits to Peru, Uruguay and Argentina and involve at least 14 flights.
Although the Vatican has not officially confirmed whether the trip will proceed, the surgeon who led the operation, Professor Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican News that he saw “no clinical reasons” for cancelling it.
Mora said the pope might be advised to walk during the journey to reduce the risk of blood clots associated with long flights. She also recommended vaccinations against COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus to provide additional protection against respiratory infections.
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