Pope Leo needs no further treatment after cancer surgery, doctors say

The 71-year-old leader of the Catholic church has had the lower lobe of his right lung removed in surgery.

Pope Leo XIV needs no further treatment for lung cancer after confirming the disease had not spread following recent surgery, the Vatican announced in a statement from doctors.

“A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required,” the pope’s lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said Wednesday.

The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung surgically removed on October 13 and was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Leo was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday, four days after his operation, and the Vatican said he would gradually resume his activities. On Wednesday, he returned to St Peter’s Square for his weekly audience with pilgrims.

Found by chance

Additional treatment is generally offered in cases where follow-up testing finds signs that the cancer has spread, such as through the lymph nodes, or if other signs indicate that it might be particularly aggressive. Surgery often can be enough when tumours are caught very early, as the Catholic leader appears to have had, when the nodule was initially found during another unrelated exam.

In an interview with Vatican News on Saturday, Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, confirmed that the nodule was found by chance during routine abdominal examinations, and that the pope had not been experiencing any symptoms.

The pope carried on his official business while in the hospital, including a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has appeared strong in two public appearances at the Vatican since his surgery: the traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St Peter’s Square and Wednesday’s longer audience in the square, greeting the faithful from around the world.

“Thank you! Thank you for the support of your prayers,” Leo exclaimed to the audience.

It appears that the Catholic leader remains committed to his November 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

Leo’s lead surgeon told Vatican News that there was “no clinical reason” to prevent the trip, which includes a dozen flights, two helicopter rides and high-altitude stops.