Pope Leo’s lung cancer was localized, no further treatment needed, Vatican says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV will not need further cancer treatment, the Vatican announced Oct. 22.
Final examinations of tissue removed during his lung surgery confirmed that the cancer was localized lung adenocarcinoma, and an oncological evaluation determined that no additional therapy was necessary, according to a Vatican communique.
Despite the positive medical findings, doctors are still recommending precautions as the pope recovers from surgery.
The Vatican announced Oct. 23 that Pope Leo would no longer travel to Assisi Oct. 27 for an interreligious peace gathering marking the 40th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace convened by St. John Paul II.
A follow-up chest X-ray confirmed that his recovery was progressing extremely well, but doctors advised against the planned helicopter journey as a precaution, given the short time since his surgery.
The news of his cleared medical tests came just over a week after the pope underwent surgery Oct. 13 at Rome’s Gemelli hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Medical tests had detected a suspicious growth that was later confirmed to be adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in glandular cells.
Throughout his hospitalization, the Vatican issued daily updates on his condition, reporting that his recovery was progressing as expected and that postoperative test results were “within the expected range.”
The day after surgery, the pope began respiratory therapy, walked around his hospital room and resumed eating. As his recovery progressed, he gradually returned to daily activities and celebrated Mass with medical personnel Oct. 16.
Just four days after the operation, he was discharged Oct. 17, several days ahead of initial projections. He returned to the Vatican and led the Sunday Angelus prayer Oct. 18, during which he thanked the faithful for their prayers and the medical staff for their care.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the lead thoracic surgeon who operated on the pope, told Vatican News Oct. 17 that “the pope could be fully recovered in another 10 days or so.”
Pope Leo is scheduled to depart Nov. 6 for an 11-day apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Asked whether the pope’s recovery would affect his travel plans, Dr. Margaritora said he saw no medical obstacles to the trip.
“As for a long trip involving air travel to take place in about three weeks, I would say that there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place,” he told Vatican News.