Pope Leo XIV Needs No Further Treatment After Lung Tumor Surgery, Doctors Say

Final test results confirm diagnosis

• Doctors confirmed that the tumor removed from Pope Leo XIV was a localized lung adenocarcinoma.
• No further treatment is needed, according to an oncology consultation.
• The pope has resumed daily activity and is cleared for a November trip to South America.

The pope's personal physician, Luigi Carbone, and Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who led the operating team on October 13, signed a joint statement released by the Vatican on Wednesday evening. It said the final histopathological reports and molecular biology tests on tissue removed during the operation had been completed. The results confirmed a lung adenocarcinoma, and the disease was confined to the lung (Nowe oświadczenie lekarzy ws. stanu zdrowia papieża Leona XIV – WP Wiadomości) (Watykan wstrzymał oddech. Lekarze papieża wydali komunikat po zabiegu – PolsatNews.pl) (Nowe informacje ws. stanu zdrowia papieża Leona XIV. "Wyniki potwierdziły" - Wydarzenia w INTERIA.PL – wydarzenia.interia.pl).

No further therapy needed

After the results came in, the pope attended an oncology consultation. Doctors concluded that no additional treatment was necessary (Watykan przekazał nowe informacje o stanie zdrowia papieża Leona XIV – Onet). Margaritora also told Vatican News that there are no medical contraindications to the apostolic trip to South America planned for November.

Return to daily activity

Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday and has gradually resumed his daily schedule (Nowe informacje o zdrowiu papieża. Jednoznaczna ocena lekarzy – RMF24). On Wednesday he met thousands of faithful at a general audience in St. Peter's Square, the second such public appearance since the operation. In his remarks he thanked people for their prayers and support.

Trip dates

The trip to South America is scheduled for November 6 to 17. Doctors' assessment that the pope is fit to travel is the key medical point for the Vatican's planning.