Pope Leo XIV requires no further therapy following lung cancer operation

Pope Leo XIV will not require additional medical therapy following surgical intervention to extract a cancerous mass from his lung, his medical team has announced.

Pathology examinations conducted on tissue extracted during the procedure verified that the pontiff suffered from a localised lung adenocarcinoma, which aligned with the initial medical assessment. According to a statement released by the Vatican, an oncological follow-up evaluation determined that no further treatment is needed.

The 71-year-old pontiff left Rome's Gemelli Hospital over the weekend, four days after undergoing the operation. Upon departing the medical facility, he paused to greet well-wishers before returning to his duties. On Wednesday, he conducted his standard weekly general audience before crowds gathered in St Peter's Square, marking his first such public appearance since leaving the clinic.

The 90-minute operation took place on 13 October and entailed excising the lower lobe of the pontiff's right lung. Pope Leo had personally revealed the upcoming procedure during a preceding Sunday prayer address, notifying faithful in St Peter's Square that physicians had detected a nodule, which he noted had been identified early.

Photographs released on the Friday following the procedure captured the Pope leading Mass inside the hospital setting, dressed in liturgical vestments in front of an improvised altar. Despite his hospitalisation, the Vatican indicated he maintained an active diplomatic schedule, holding a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to advocate for dialogue, peace, and a temporary halt to fighting in the occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky so food supplies could reach the area. The Pope conducted a corresponding call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.

Aids and associates have stated that the pontiff remains intent on proceeding as scheduled with an upcoming official journey to Latin America, which is slated to take place in early November.