The Vatican announced today, Thursday, in a statement followed by the news video agency that Pope Leo XIV will not need additional treatment after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung last week.
The Vatican stated that medical test results showed that the tumor removed from the pope's lung, who is 71 years old, was localized, confirming that further tumor tests indicated no need for any additional treatment.
The statement added that the pope underwent the surgical operation on October 13 at Gemelli Hospital in the Italian capital, Rome, where the tumor was excised and part of his right lung was removed.
The pope announced on October 11 in front of a crowd in St. Peter's Square that he would undergo surgery to remove a tumor discovered at an early stage, based on the recommendation of doctors who deemed surgical intervention to be the most appropriate option.
Leo XIV left the hospital on October 17, announcing his intention to gradually resume his duties, expressing his desire to proceed with his planned tour to Latin America from November 6 to 17, which includes Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
For his part, the doctor who performed the operation, Stefano Margaritora, confirmed in an interview with the "Vatican News" website that there are no clinical reasons preventing the pope from making the anticipated trip.
He explained that the tumor was discovered incidentally during a routine abdominal X-ray, which revealed a small spot at the base of the right lung.