Pope Leo returns to duties after lung cancer surgery

Summarised from 9 outlets · 13 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 21:51 · Archive

Pope Leo returned to his public duties eight days after surgery to remove a cancerous portion of his lung.

Pope Leo returned to his public duties at St Peter's Square on Wednesday, eight days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous portion of his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff stood in the back of his open-air popemobile as it drove through the square, waving, smiling and stopping to talk to pilgrims and blessing children from the vehicle.

Leo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed in a 90-minute operation on 13 October after doctors discovered a nodule. He was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. He had announced the procedure during his weekly Sunday prayers, telling crowds that doctors had found the growth 'at an early stage'.

Wednesday's appearance marked his first general audience since 7 October. The event followed a normal format, with crowds gathering hours ahead of the 9.45am start time under drizzling grey skies. The audience lasted 50 minutes and Leo offered a sermon in Italian.

In his opening remarks, Leo thanked those gathered for their support and prayers, speaking in a clear voice without specifically mentioning his health. 'Thanks be to God for his generosity,' he said as cheers broke out in the square. 'Let's renew our trust in the goodness and mercy of God.' The only significant change from previous occasions was that he gave brief greetings in seven languages instead of nine.

On Sunday, Leo had pledged to slowly resume his duties as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. He was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital over the weekend, four days after his operation, stopping to speak to well-wishers as he left the grounds.

On the same Friday as his discharge, the Vatican said Leo spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone to urge a ceasefire in the blockaded Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow food aid delivery, and to call for 'dialogue and peace'. He had a similar phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.

On Wednesday, Leo's doctors confirmed that test results had verified his lung cancer diagnosis and that the disease was localised. Dr Luigi Carbone, the pope's personal physician, and Professor Stefano Margaritora, his lead surgeon, issued a statement saying: 'A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required.' Leo's doctors previously said his surgery was completed successfully without complications.

How it is being reported

• No further treatment necessary for Pope Leo, Vatican doctors sayVatican doctors said Wednesday no further treatment is necessary for Pope Leo XIV as he recovers from the removal of a cancerous tumor from his lung.UPI · 21 Oct, 22:09
• Pope Leo's treatment for lung cancer was successful, Vatican announcesPope Leo's treatment for lung cancer was successful, the Vatican announced on Wednesday.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 22:07
• Pope Leo’s doctors issue major update on lung cancer diagnosisPope Leo's doctors have issued a major update on the pontiff's lung cancer diagnosis. Earlier this month, the Pope had the lower section of his right lung removed on October 13 after being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma - the most common form of the disease. In a statement, the Pope's personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, and his surgeon, Dr Stefano Margaritora confirmed that tissue and molecular tests showed his lung cancer had been localised. They said that no further treatment was necessary, the Vatican said. MORE TO FOLLOW... TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Our Standards: The GB…GB News · 21 Oct, 21:38
• No further treatment needed for Pope Leo after cancer surgery, Vatican saysPope Leo won't need further treatment after his surgery for lung cancer, the Vatican announced on Wednesday. CBS News foreign correspondent Chris Livesay reports.CBS News · 21 Oct, 21:27
• Pope does not need further treatment after lung cancer surgeryTest results have confirmed his diagnosis as a lung adenocarcinoma that was localised.BBC News · 21 Oct, 21:09
• Pope Leo won't need more treatment after cancer surgery, doctors sayPope Leo XIV will not need any further treatment after having lung cancer surgery, his doctors said in a statement.CBS News · 21 Oct, 20:47
• Pope Leo XIV needs no further cancer treatment after lung tumor removed, doctors sayPope Leo XIV's doctors say the lung adenocarcinoma tumor removed Oct. 13 was localized, and a cancer assessment found no further treatment needed.Fox News · 21 Oct, 20:39
• Pope Leo's doctors say tests show he needs no further treatment for lung cancerPope Leo's doctors say final tissue and molecular tests have confirmed his lung cancer was localised, and no further treatment is needed, the Vatican said in a statement.Sky News · 21 Oct, 20:34
• Pope Leo won’t need further therapy following lung cancer operation, doctors sayHistological examinations results confirmed a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, with the disease remaining localized, the doctors said.New York Post · 21 Oct, 20:32
• Pope Leo's doctors issue health update after lung cancer surgeryPope Leo underwent lung cancer surgery last weekIndependent World · 21 Oct, 20:28
• Pope Leo returns to St. Peter’s Square, hold first audience since cancer surgeryPope Leo returned to St. Peter's Square, waving to pilgrims from his open-air popemobile as he held his first general audience at the Vatican since undergoing lung cancer surgery.New York Post · 21 Oct, 14:57
• Pope Leo addresses crowds at St. Peter's Square days after cancer surgeryPope Leo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed in surgery eight days agoIndependent World · 21 Oct, 10:56
• Pope Leo returns to work less than a week after lung cancer surgeryPope Leo returned to work at the Vatican on Monday, less than a week after doctors removed a portion of his lung when a cancerous growth was discovered. Chris Livesay reports from Rome.CBS News · 20 Oct, 00:43

In this story: Pope Leo · Luigi Carbone · Stefano Margaritora · Vladimir Putin · Volodymyr Zelensky · Vatican · St Peter's Square · Rome

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