Surgeons removed the lower lobe of Pope Leo XIV’s right lung on October 13, yet Vatican officials report that the diagnosis required no further cancer treatment as recovery allows an ambitious 12-day South American tour to remain scheduled for November.
The 71-year-old pontiff received clear follow-up test results confirming that his lung adenocarcinoma was localized and had not spread following recent surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic. Dr. Stefano Margaritora, chief thoracic surgeon at Gemelli hospital, and personal physician Dr. Luigi Carbone announced in an October 21 statement that no further therapy is required for the pontiff.
Dr. Stephen Liu, a lung cancer expert at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, noted that such findings typically indicate stage I lung cancer, where surgery is highly effective and expected to be curative, after the initial discovery came as an incidental finding when doctors spotted a pulmonary nodule during routine abdominal examinations, according to medical teams. Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora stated on Wednesday evening that subsequent oncological assessments confirmed that no further treatment is necessary. Dr. Luigi Carbone confirmed that the recovery of the Holy Father continues following the surgery, while the latest examinations attest to favorable clinical conditions and good health. Dr. Thomas Bauer, chief of thoracic surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, noted that the scheduled removal of the nodule indicated that doctors already suspected cancer. Sudish Murthy, section chair of thoracic surgery at Cleveland Clinic, explained that lower lobes of lungs receive slightly more blood flow than upper ones due to gravity. Bauer mentioned that patients can go on to run marathons after the removal of a lung lobe because of the built-in redundancy of lungs. Murthy stated that undergoing surgery indicates sufficient vigorous vitality to tolerate it, and when early-stage lung cancer is caught by screening and fully removed, 80 percent or more of patients survive five years later. Guillermo Inca Pereda, the coordinator for the papal visit to Peru, confirmed to the Peruvian television station TVPE Noticias that news of the surgery never interrupted preparations for the journey, and the third advance team mission arrived in Peru on October 26. José Manuel Zamora Romero, a priest in Lambayeque who knew the pope for years, remarked that he no longer had much of an American accent. According to the Pew Research Center, the share of adults in Peru identifying as Catholic dropped from 76 percent to 67 percent over the decade leading to 2024. Peru hosts the world’s second-largest Venezuelan diaspora community, comprising over 1.5 million migrants.
Pope Leo XIV’s doctors have confirmed that the tumor removed on October 13 was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized.Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said on Wednesday evening that a subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that “no… pic.twitter.com/pDotj54H3h
Archbishop Paul Gallagher Reassesses Papal Image
Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister, described the medical event as a gamechanger during an event in Rome, noting that some Catholics had previously viewed the relatively young pontiff as a superhuman figure.
I think that is going to change how we see him and possibly how he sees himself as well.
Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister
Leo has maintained a visible public presence since his discharge on October 17. He appeared at a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square for the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer and later addressed thousands during a 50-minute general audience, speaking in a clear voice and offering gratitude for global prayers.
The first thing I want to say to you is thank you for the support and prayers.
Pope Leo XIV, Vatican City
Medical Clearance Clears November Tour of South America
The Vatican announced that the pope has been given the medical green light to undertake an apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to November 17 following an evaluation of his clinical status and laboratory tests.
Advance preparation teams arrived in Peru on October 26 to coordinate the itinerary, which includes stops in 10 cities and high-altitude locations. Pope Leo expressed joy and enthusiasm regarding this upcoming Apostolic Journey, while the Holy See Press Office confirmed the destinations of Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. A statement released on Monday by the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the journey will take place according to the previously released schedule. The Pope expressed deep gratitude for global prayers, affection, and the dedicated care of medical professionals during his recovery. The journey includes 14 flights scheduled for the November trip. The prelate noted that a local Peruvian doctor will be prepared to assist during visits to high-altitude towns in the Andes Mountains.
Lead surgical teams found no clinical reason to prevent the South American tour, even though medical advisors recommended a precautionary cancellation of a helicopter trip to Assisi for an international peace gathering due to unpressurized air risks. The grueling itinerary features a 14-hour flight from Rome to Montevideo, multiple regional flights, and a visit to the Peruvian city of Cuzco, situated more than 11,000 feet above sea level.
For the Chicago-born pope, the journey holds deep personal resonance. Before his elevation to the papacy in May 2025, he spent more than two decades working as a missionary and bishop across Peru, establishing local ties that residents and regional clergy continue to commemorate ahead of his homecoming.
How will the pontiff manage the 14 flights and high-altitude towns in Peru during his upcoming tour?
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