Pope Leo stepped onto the Apostolic Palace balcony days after lung cancer surgery, and now the Vatican has released the results he was waiting for

The Vatican press office announced that Pope Leo XIV will not need any further lung cancer treatment following his surgery last week. As reported by CNN, doctors confirmed the update in a Wednesday bulletin.

Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal physician, and Dr. Stefano Margaritora, who led the surgical team, said, “The final histological reports and molecular biology analyses of the tissue removed during the Holy Father’s surgery have been completed today.” The results showed the condition was a “pulmonary adenocarcinoma” and that the disease was localized. A follow-up oncological evaluation confirmed that no further therapy is needed.

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is the most common kind of lung cancer, making up about 40% of all cases. It is often slow-moving and can affect people who do not smoke.

The pope’s recovery has outpaced what doctors usually see

Pope Leo, who released his first encyclical on AI in May, announced on October 11 that he needed surgery for a “nodule” on his lung. The news came as a shock to many inside and outside the Vatican, given his reputation for clean living. After a short hospital stay in Rome, where doctors removed a lobe of his right lung, he returned home on October 17.

The following day, he made his first public appearance since the diagnosis, leading the Sunday Angelus from the balcony of the Apostolic Palace. He told the crowds below, “This experience has given me a profound sense of closeness to all those who are going through illness or a state of infirmity.”

Dr. Juanita Mora, the national medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association, said Pope Leo’s recovery has been much faster than what is normally seen. Mora, who is not part of his care team, said doctors will monitor him with follow-up CT scans every three to six months for the first few years, then annually to check for any regrowth.

Patients often undergo respiratory physiotherapy after this kind of surgery to restore breathing capacity. Mora said his affected lung should regain full function.

The all-clear comes ahead of the pontiff’s planned South America trip next month. The cancer news had complicated plans for the journey, which is set to include stops in Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina and will require at least 14 flights.

Even before the latest update, Margaritora told the Vatican he saw “no clinical reasons” for canceling the trip. If it goes ahead, Mora said the pontiff will probably be told to walk during his travels to prevent blood clots, which can form during long flights. She also recommended he get Covid-19, flu, and RSV vaccines before the trip for “a little extra protection in case he were to get any of the respiratory infections.”