Pope Leo XIV Will Not Need Further Cancer Treatment, Doctors Confirm
Pope Leo XIV Will Not Need Further Cancer Treatment, Doctors Confirm
Published: October 22, 2026
Pope Leo XIV will not require additional cancer treatment following surgery to remove a tumour from his right lung, according to his medical team. Doctors confirmed that the cancer remained localized and had not spread to other parts of his body.
The announcement was made on Wednesday after further examinations of the tissue removed during surgery.
Doctors Confirm No Further Therapy Is Required
The 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery on October 13, during which doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung. He was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
According to a statement released by the Vatican, histological examinations and molecular biology analyses confirmed the diagnosis, with the disease remaining localized.
Pope Leo's lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said a subsequent oncology evaluation had determined that no additional treatment was necessary.
Pope Gradually Resumes His Duties
Pope Leo was discharged from Rome's Gemelli University Hospital on Saturday and has been gradually returning to his regular responsibilities.
On Wednesday, he appeared in St Peter's Square for his weekly audience with pilgrims, marking a further step in his return to public duties following surgery.
South America Visit Remains Uncertain
The medical update comes as questions remain about the Pope's planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
His lead surgeon previously said there were no clinical reasons preventing him from travelling. However, the Vatican's secretary of state has suggested that the Pope may need to follow a less demanding schedule to support his recovery.
A final decision regarding the trip had not been confirmed in the report.
Source: Reuters, via Khaleej Times.
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