Vatican Announces Pope Leo XIV Requires No Further Cancer Treatment
Pope Leo XIV does not need further treatment after final tests confirmed his lung cancer was localized. The 71-year-old pontiff has returned to his duties and plans an upcoming Latin America trip.
Doctors treating Pope Leo XIV announced that final tissue and molecular tests confirmed the lung cancer discovered in his body was localized, meaning he requires no further treatment. The Vatican shared the encouraging news on Wednesday, bringing relief to over one billion Catholic faithful worldwide.
Surgery and Pathology Results
The 71-year-robed pontiff, who was elected last year following the death of Pope Francis, underwent surgery last week to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Shortly after the procedure, the Vatican confirmed that tests had identified adenocarcinoma of the lung, the most common form of the disease. At the time, questions remained regarding whether additional medical interventions would be necessary.
On Wednesday evening, the Vatican released a statement from the Pope's personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora. The medical team confirmed that detailed pathology results from the removed tissue verified the initial diagnosis that the cancer had not spread.
Further oncological evaluation has confirmed that no additional treatment is necessary, the doctors stated.
Recovery and Upcoming Travel
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from the hospital on Saturday and has since been gradually returning to his daily routine. On Wednesday, he reappeared in St. Peter's Square to greet thousands of faithful during his weekly general audience, riding through the crowds in the Popemobile.
Vatican officials indicated that an ambitious 11-day apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, scheduled for November 6 to 17, is expected to proceed as planned.
Elected in May 2025 at the age of 70, Pope Leo XIV—born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955—is the first American pontiff in history. He served for decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru before ascending to the Holy See.
