Pope Leo declared free of cancer after surgery

Pope Leo XIV has been declared cancer-free and will not need any further treatment after having lung cancer surgery.

Test results confirmed that the pope’s cancer was localized, Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s physician, and Dr. Stefano Margaritora, his surgeon, said in a statement.

“A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required,” the doctors said.

Leo’s cancer diagnosis was announced last week after he was admitted to a Rome hospital for a surgery to remove a lung nodule. The pontiff was diagnosed with the common cancer of lung adenocarcinoma, and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung during a procedure that lasted about 90 minutes.

The 71-year-old was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital over the weekend, four days after his operation, stopping to speak to well-wishers as he left the grounds.

It comes as he held his first weekly general audience since leaving hospital at St Peter’s Square on Wednesday.

Leo is continuing his recovery at the Vatican and hosted his usual general audience on Wednesday, waving from the popemobile to the large crowd of the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square and blessing children raised up to him.

The pope is expected to travel to South America in early November, the Vatican said.