Pope Leo XIV needs no further treatment after surgery for an early lung cancer, his doctors say
Final tests confirmed a localized adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, and found no spread. His doctors say nothing medical stands in the way of a South America trip next month.
Key takeaways
- The Pope's physician and his surgeon at Rome's Gemelli hospital said on October 21 that no further treatment is necessary.
- Part of his right lung was removed after a nodule was found during routine exams; he left hospital on October 17.
- A trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17 is expected to go ahead.
Pope Leo XIV will not need chemotherapy or other treatment after surgery to remove an early lung cancer, his doctors said on October 21. In a statement, his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, chief of thoracic surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital, said final tests confirmed an adenocarcinoma that had not spread. "A subsequent oncology assessment confirmed that no further treatment is necessary," the statement said, as reported by the Associated Press.
How was it found?
The nodule was an incidental finding during routine abdominal exams, and the Pope disclosed it himself at his Sunday blessing on October 11. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung in an operation of about 90 minutes, CBS News reported. He was discharged on Saturday, October 17, four days after surgery and earlier than the week-long stay the Vatican had anticipated.
Leo, 71, has kept working through it. He handled business from the hospital, including a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and has since appeared at the Sunday blessing and Wednesday's general audience. It is the first significant health event of his 17-month papacy.
What comes next
The Vatican has scheduled a trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, with about a dozen flights and stops at high altitude. Margaritora said there is no clinical reason to prevent it. Adenocarcinoma found early and removed surgically generally has a better outlook than lung cancer found after it spreads, which is why the incidental discovery matters. People with questions about their own lung health should talk to a physician.
Sources
- PBS NewsHour (Associated Press), “Pope Leo's tests show he needs no further treatment for lung cancer, his doctors say,” October 21, 2026
- CBS News, “Pope Leo won't need further treatment after lung cancer surgery, doctors say,” October 21, 2026
Written by Action Global News from the sources above; quotations are attributed to the outlet that published them. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.
Frequently asked
What kind of cancer did Pope Leo have?
A localized adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, found in the lower lobe of his right lung. Tests showed it had not spread.
Will the Pope still travel to South America?
His surgeon said there is no clinical reason to prevent the November 6 to 17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.