Pope Leo’s Cancer Surgery Successful, No Further Treatment Needed

Pope Leo XIV will not require further treatment for lung cancer after tests confirmed that the tumour removed during surgery last week was localized and had not spread, the Vatican said on Wednesday, October 21.

The results bring reassuring news about the health of the 71-year-old pontiff, whose operation on October 13 involved removing the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital. His personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, and lead surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, said the final tissue examination and molecular tests confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer. An oncology assessment subsequently concluded that no additional treatment was necessary.

The cancer was discovered after doctors identified a small nodule during medical examinations. The pope had previously said the growth was localized and had been detected at an early stage. According to the Vatican’s medical update, the final tests confirmed that the disease had not spread, allowing doctors to conclude that further cancer therapy was not required.

The surgery was reported to have gone according to plan, and Leo was discharged from hospital on October 17, four days after the procedure. During his hospital stay, the Vatican said his recovery was progressing normally. He began respiratory physiotherapy, resumed eating and walking around his room, and continued to handle some official business while receiving care.

Since returning to the Vatican, the pope has begun resuming public engagements. He appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace for the traditional Sunday Angelus on October 18 and led his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square on October 21, greeting the faithful and thanking them for their prayers and support. The Vatican had said he would continue recovering at the Apostolic Palace rather than travel to his residence at Castel Gandolfo during the week.

Attention is also turning to the pope’s planned visit to South America from November 6 to 17, which is scheduled to include Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Margaritora told Vatican News that, from a clinical standpoint, there was no reason the trip should be cancelled, although the pontiff is still in the recovery period following the operation. The itinerary is demanding, with multiple flights and visits to locations at high altitude.

Adenocarcinoma develops in glandular cells and is the most common type of lung cancer. The absence of a need for further treatment in Leo’s case reflects the doctors’ assessment of the tumour and the test results; it does not mean that his postoperative recovery is complete or that future medical follow-up will be unnecessary. The Vatican has not announced any change to the pope’s immediate recovery arrangements.

The update is significant for the Catholic Church, whose leader’s health can affect the rhythm of Vatican affairs, public audiences and international travel. For now, the medical assessment offers reassurance that the cancer was localized and surgically removed, while Leo’s return to public duties and the approaching South American visit remain important markers of how he progresses after surgery.