Pope Leo XIV will not require further treatment for lung cancer following surgery, after medical tests confirmed that the disease was localized, the Vatican announced on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
The Pope’s personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, and surgeon Professor Stefano Margaritora confirmed the findings in a statement released after the completion of laboratory examinations on tissue removed during the operation. The results confirmed that the tumour was pulmonary adenocarcinoma and that the cancer had not spread beyond the affected area.
“A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary,” the doctors said in the statement.
The announcement followed surgery on October 13, when the 71-year-old pontiff underwent the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung to remove the tumour.
The surgery confirmed that Pope Leo XIV had lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. The diagnosis was established through examinations of the tissue removed during the procedure.
According to Vatican News, the final histological examinations and molecular biology tests were completed on October 21. These assessments confirmed the diagnosis and established that the disease remained localized.
The lung nodule was reportedly discovered by chance during routine medical examinations. In an interview with Vatican News, Margaritora said the finding emerged during abdominal examinations and that the Pope had not been experiencing symptoms associated with the nodule.
The Pope had announced on October 11 that he would undergo surgery to remove the growth. The procedure took place two days later at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital.
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Gemelli Hospital on October 17, four days after the operation. Medical assessments, including blood tests and a chest X-ray, indicated that his condition allowed him to leave the hospital.
Following his return to the Vatican, the Pope said he would gradually resume his activities.
On October 18, he appeared at the Vatican for the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer. He thanked the faithful for their prayers and expressed his closeness to people experiencing illness.
His recovery continued with his return to St Peter’s Square on October 21 for his weekly general audience. During the gathering, he thanked those who had supported him through their prayers.
The audience marked his first weekly public gathering since undergoing lung surgery.
The medical team’s announcement means that Pope Leo XIV will not require additional cancer treatment following the operation, based on the completed examinations and subsequent oncology assessment.
Treatment decisions following cancer surgery depend on several factors, including the tumour’s characteristics and whether the disease has spread. In the Pope’s case, doctors confirmed that the cancer was localized and determined that further treatment was unnecessary.
The Vatican statement did not announce a detailed long-term monitoring schedule or provide additional information about future medical assessments.
Pope Leo XIV has a planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, 2026. The trip is expected to involve multiple flights, helicopter transfers and visits to locations at high altitudes.
Following the surgery, Margaritora said there were no clinical reasons preventing the Pope from undertaking the visit. However, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin indicated that the pontiff might need to adjust the pace of his schedule to support his recovery.
The planned trip remains a significant upcoming engagement as the Pope gradually resumes his responsibilities.
The latest medical update provides confirmation that the tumour was localized and that doctors do not consider further cancer treatment necessary. Pope Leo XIV has returned to public duties at the Vatican while continuing his recovery from the October 13 operation.
