Pope Leo XIV will not need additional treatment for lung cancer after surgery successfully removed the affected tissue, according to the Vatican.
The Vatican press office announced the development in a medical bulletin on Wednesday, following the completion of laboratory tests on tissue removed during the pontiff’s surgery last week.
The bulletin said final histological findings and molecular biology analyses confirmed that the pope had pulmonary adenocarcinoma, with the disease confined to a localised area.
“The results have confirmed that the condition was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required,” the bulletin stated.
Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of cases. Although it can develop relatively slowly, the disease also occurs in people who have never smoked.
Leo announced on October 11 that he required surgery for a lung nodule, raising concerns about his health both within the Vatican and among the wider public.
During his subsequent hospital stay in Rome, doctors removed the affected lobe of his left lung. He was discharged and returned home on October 17.
A day later, the pontiff made his first public appearance since the diagnosis, leading the Sunday Angelus prayer from the balcony of the Apostolic Palace.
Speaking to worshippers, Leo reflected on his experience and its impact on his understanding of people facing health challenges.
“This experience has given me a profound sense of closeness to all those who are going through illness or a state of infirmity,” he said.
CNN reported that the pope’s recovery had progressed faster than is usually expected after such an operation, citing Dr Juanita Mora, a national medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association who was not involved in his treatment.
Mora said doctors would likely continue monitoring Leo with follow-up CT scans every three to six months during the first few years, before moving to annual examinations to check for any possible recurrence.
She also noted that patients recovering from similar operations often receive respiratory physiotherapy to help restore their breathing capacity.
