Pope Leo Needs No Further Cancer Treatment, Vatican Says

Pope Leo Needs No Further Cancer Treatment, Vatican Says

Vatican: Surgery Successful, Tumor Localized

The Vatican press office said Wednesday that Pope Leo XIV's cancer surgery earlier this month was a success and that no further treatment is required. The announcement came after the completion of final histological reports and molecular biology analyses of the tissue removed during the operation. Dr. Luigi Carbone and Prof. Stefano Margaritora, who treated the pope, said the results confirmed the condition was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized.

Doctors Confirm No Further Therapy Needed

In the bulletin, Carbone and Margaritora said the final histological reports and molecular biology analyses were completed that day. "The results have confirmed that the condition was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required," the bulletin added. Reuters quoted the doctors as saying the tumor had not spread.

Surgery Took Place on October 13

The 71-year-old pontiff underwent thoracic surgery on October 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. According to the Vatican, he was in the operating room for about three hours, with the surgery itself lasting approximately 90 minutes. The procedure was successful and there were no complications. Postoperative blood tests and a chest X-ray returned values within the expected range for the type of operation performed.

From Discovery to Diagnosis

Speaking after an Angelus address in St. Peter's Square, Leo said doctors had found a small lump in his lung. "It was identified at a very early stage and well situated," he said, adding that following the doctors' advice he decided to have surgery to remove it. Preoperative tests had indicated the potential presence of cancer, and the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma — the most common type of lung cancer — was confirmed during surgery.

Recovery: Duties Resume

On October 14, the Vatican said the pope had spent a tranquil night in Rome's Gemelli hospital and that his recovery was progressing normally. By October 15, the Vatican announced that Leo had resumed some papal duties. As he left the hospital, the pope told a reporter in English that he was doing "much better," after a shorter hospital stay than had initially been anticipated.

No Chemotherapy: The Final Verdict

Had the cancer spread, further tests would have been needed to determine what therapy to pursue, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted drugs. The Vatican described the removal of the lobe as "radical," indicating that all suspect tissue was taken out. With the disease confirmed as localized, the doctors concluded that no further treatment is necessary, and the pope's care now moves to routine follow-up.

On Wednesday morning, eight days after the operation, Leo rode the popemobile through St Peter's Square before his first general audience since the surgery, stopping along the route to bless babies. He thanked the crowds for their support and prayers. Doctors said there was no clinical reason to cancel his planned South America trip starting November 6, which covers Uruguay, Argentina and Peru over at least 14 flights.