In short
- Pope Leo XIV, 71, had a 90-minute operation on 13 October that removed the lower lobe of his right lung.
- Tests on tissue removed during the surgery confirmed a lung adenocarcinoma that was localised, the Vatican said.
- The Vatican statement said: “A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary.”
- Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital over the weekend, four days after the operation.
- During his hospital stay he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Pope Leo XIV does not need further treatment after surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his lung, his doctors said, confirming that tests showed a localised lung adenocarcinoma. The 71-year-old was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital over the weekend, four days after the 90-minute operation on 13 October.
What did the Pope’s doctors say?
In a statement shared by the Vatican, the doctors said test results on tissue removed during the operation confirmed a lung adenocarcinoma, the diagnosis initially given, and that the disease was localised. “A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary,” the statement said.
What surgery did Pope Leo XIV have?
The operation took place on 13 October, lasted 90 minutes and included the removal of the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung. Pope Leo XIV announced the procedure himself during his weekly Sunday prayers, telling those gathered in St Peter’s Square that doctors had found a nodule on his lung and that it had been caught “at an early stage”. The Vatican had said the surgery would take place within days.
When was the Pope discharged?
Pope Leo XIV left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital over the weekend, four days after the operation, and stopped to speak to well-wishers as he left the grounds. On Wednesday he held his first weekly general audience since leaving hospital, in St Peter’s Square. Images shared on the Friday after his operation showed him celebrating Mass from the hospital in green vestments, standing behind a makeshift altar. He has also celebrated Mass in Paris with 700,000 worshippers.
Who did the Pope speak to while in hospital?
The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on that Friday, urging a ceasefire in the blockaded Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow the delivery of food aid, and calling for “dialogue and peace”. He held a similar call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.
Is the Latin America trip still planned?
People close to the pope have previously said he was keen not to delay a trip to Latin America planned for early November. The Vatican’s statement on his treatment made no mention of the trip.
Frequently asked questions
What type of cancer did Pope Leo XIV have?
Tests on tissue removed during his lung operation confirmed a lung adenocarcinoma, the diagnosis initially given, and the Vatican said the disease was localised.
Does Pope Leo XIV need further cancer treatment?
No. The Vatican said a subsequent oncological assessment confirmed that no further treatment is necessary.
When did Pope Leo XIV leave hospital?
He was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital over the weekend, four days after his 90-minute operation on 13 October.
Has the Pope resumed public appearances?
Yes. He held his first weekly general audience since leaving hospital in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)