Pope Leo will not require additional cancer treatment following surgery to remove part of his right lung, his medical team has announced, offering encouraging news about the 71-year-old pontiff’s recovery.
The Vatican confirmed on Wednesday that further examinations showed the cancer remained confined to the affected area and had not spread. The announcement comes as questions remain over whether the pope will travel to South America next month as planned.
The US-born pontiff underwent surgery on October 13, during which doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung. He was subsequently diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
According to a statement released by the Vatican, final tissue examinations and molecular biology tests confirmed the diagnosis but showed that the disease was still localised.
Pope Leo’s lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said a further assessment had established that additional treatment was unnecessary.
“A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required,” the doctors said.
The pope was discharged from hospital on Saturday and has gradually begun returning to his regular duties.
On Wednesday, he appeared at St Peter’s Square for his weekly audience with pilgrims, marking another step in his recovery following the operation.
His medical team had previously indicated that there were no medical reasons preventing him from travelling to South America. However, the Vatican has yet to confirm whether he will proceed with his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
Stefano Margaritora said last week that there were “no clinical reasons” preventing the trip. Nevertheless, the Vatican’s Secretary of State has suggested that the pope may need to reduce the intensity of his schedule to allow sufficient time for recovery.
While the latest medical assessment means no further cancer therapy is currently required, the pope’s travel plans remain uncertain as the Vatican considers his recovery and future commitments.
