Vatican Says Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further Cancer Treatment

Pope Leo XIV does not require further cancer treatment following surgery for localized lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican said Wednesday, October 21, after laboratory analyses confirmed the diagnosis and an oncological evaluation found no need for additional therapy. The findings support his recovery as preparations continue for a planned visit to South America in November.

According to a Vatican press office bulletin, the final histological reports and molecular biology analyses of the tissue removed during the operation were completed on October 21. The examination confirmed that the cancer was confined to the affected area.

Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope's personal physician, and Professor Stefano Margaritora, the thoracic surgeon who led the operation, provided the medical update. The Vatican reported that the evaluation had established that no further treatment was necessary.

"The final histological reports and molecular biology analyses of the tissue removed during the Holy Father's surgery have been completed today," said Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora in the medical bulletin.

The bulletin also detailed the diagnosis and treatment recommendation following the completed examinations.

"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 stated.

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 40% of cases. The disease can develop slowly and frequently affects people who have never smoked.

The pope's condition was discovered unexpectedly during examinations conducted for other medical reasons. In an interview published by Vatican News on October 17, Margaritora explained that routine abdominal imaging revealed a small spot near the base of the lung because the lower portions of the lungs can appear in those scans.

The surgeon said the discovery illustrated the importance of preventive examinations, particularly for people at elevated risk, because early-stage lung cancer may cause no noticeable symptoms. Pope Leo had reportedly felt well and experienced no respiratory symptoms before the abnormality was detected.

The pope announced on October 11 that he needed surgery for a "nodule" in his lung. Doctors subsequently removed the lower lobe of his right lung during an operation on October 13 at a hospital in Rome.

Margaritora described the procedure as a "routine operation" for a lung tumor of that size, explaining that removing the affected lobe was medically necessary. He said the surgery proceeded without complications and that the pope's postoperative progress was satisfactory.

At discharge, the pope's blood test results were normal, his heart function was satisfactory, and the remaining lung was re-expanding according to the expected timetable, Margaritora told Vatican News.

The surgeon also praised the pope's commitment to rehabilitation, describing him as "an ideal patient." He estimated that complete physical recovery would take approximately two weeks and believed the pope could recover fully within about another ten days from the time of the interview.

In a separate interview with Vatican News, Margaritora said the responsibility of operating on the pontiff carried considerable personal weight despite the procedure's medical familiarity.

"For the first time, you are performing this kind of operation on a Pope," Margaritora recalled thinking as he prepared for the surgery.

He explained that the worldwide attention surrounding the pope made an otherwise familiar medical procedure emotionally unusual, even though the surgical team approached it according to established clinical practice.

"You have to perform a normal operation, one you have done a thousand times in your life," Margaritora said, describing the competing thoughts he experienced before the procedure.

The pope returned home on October 17 and resumed public appearances the following day, leading the Sunday Angelus from the balcony of the Apostolic Palace. Addressing worshippers, he reflected on the experience of illness and its connection to others facing medical difficulties.

"This experience has given me a profound sense of closeness to all those who are going through illness or a state of infirmity," Pope Leo said.

Medical experts who were not involved in his treatment have noted that recovery after lung surgery generally requires continued monitoring. Dr. Juanita Mora, the American Lung Association's national medical spokesperson, told CNN that follow-up imaging could include CT scans every three to six months during the first few years, followed by annual checks for signs of recurrence.

Mora also explained that respiratory physiotherapy can help patients restore breathing capacity after surgery. She said the pope should consider walking during long-distance travel to reduce the risk of blood clots and receive COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccinations before an international trip for additional respiratory protection.

The planned South America visit is scheduled for November 6–17, with stops in Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina. The itinerary would involve at least 14 flights, making the pope's recovery and ability to tolerate extended travel important considerations.

Margaritora told Vatican News that, from a medical perspective, "there are no clinical reasons why this visit should not take place." The Vatican had not officially confirmed the travel plans in its October 21 announcement.