Doctors rule out additional oncology treatment
The Vatican released a medical update on Wednesday stating that the pontiff will not require further cancer therapy following his lung operation. The report was signed by Luigi Carbone, the pope's personal physician, and Stefano Margaritora, who led the surgical team. According to the statement, definitive histological and molecular biology testing on the removed tissue confirmed a pulmonary adenocarcinoma and showed that the disease had remained localized. A subsequent oncology assessment concluded that no supplementary treatment is needed.[S1][S2][S4]
The announcement closed one of the main open questions about the pope's health. With the tests complete, the need for chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other post-surgical cancer care has been ruled out. Leo XIV, who is 71, underwent the procedure on October 13 at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, two days after telling the faithful during the Angelus prayer that a nodule had been found in his right lung. Surgeons removed the entire lower lobe of that lung.[S1][S2][S4]
Recovery and a return to public appearances
The pontiff left hospital on Saturday, four days after the operation, with his doctors describing his clinical condition as fully satisfactory. He was back at the Vatican the same day. On Sunday he appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace to lead the Angelus and told the crowd he would gradually resume his activities, thanking those who had prayed for him.[S1][S2][S3]
On Wednesday he held his first general audience since the surgery, riding through St. Peter's Square in the popemobile. He greeted pilgrims, blessed infants and accepted gifts before the audience began, and expressed gratitude for the support and prayers he had received. The weekly Wednesday audiences had been suspended the previous week.[S3][S4]
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Preparations advance for the South American tour
As the pope rebuilds his schedule, the Vatican is pressing ahead with arrangements for his trip to Latin America, scheduled for November 6 to 17, with stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The first such journey of his pontificate is expected to involve as many as 14 flights, more than forty speeches and meetings, nine large Masses and a visit to Cusco, a city above 3,000 meters of altitude. Margaritora has said he found no clinical obstacles to the trip.[S1][S3][S5]
This week the Holy See offered another sign that the visit is moving forward: a new delegation will travel to Argentina before the end of the month to continue coordinating the tour, and its members will also inspect venues in the other two countries. The arrival of the delegation does not by itself confirm the papal visit, but a Vatican announcement on the journey is expected imminently. Official planning places Leo XIV in Argentina from November 8 to 11, with events in Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján.[S1][S4][S5]
A separate papal envoy is also due in Buenos Aires in the coming days. Alessandra Smerilli, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will take part in the Regional Meeting of Popular Movements on October 27 and 28 at Ciudad Papa Francisco in La Matanza, organized as a prelude to the pope's visit. She will travel with Flavio Lauría of the dicastery team, Emilce Cuda of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Mattia Ferrari, general coordinator of the World Meeting of Popular Movements.[S3][S4]
