Vatican City — Pope Leo XIV will not require any further treatment for lung cancer following surgery, the Vatican announced Wednesday. The 71-year-old pontiff underwent a procedure last week to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after a nodule was detected during routine medical examinations. This marked the first major health event of his 17-month tenure as pope.

Doctors confirmed that the tumor was adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. According to Pope Leo’s medical team, including his personal physician Dr. Luigi Carbone and thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora, postoperative testing showed that the cancer was localized and had not spread beyond the lung tissue removed during surgery. As a result, an oncology assessment determined no additional treatments — such as chemotherapy or radiation — are necessary.

The surgery took place at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic, where the pope was discharged four days later. Following his release, Leo has gradually resumed his duties and appeared in public on two occasions, including his traditional Sunday blessing from a window in St. Peter’s Square and a longer audience greeting the faithful. He also maintained official communications during his hospital stay, notably holding a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In recent days, the pope continued his diplomatic efforts, speaking by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He urged cooperation between Russia and Ukraine to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the embattled city of Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson region, and called for safe evacuations amid ongoing conflict. The Vatican reiterated its commitment to promoting dialogue and peace in the region.

Dr. Margaritora explained that the cancer was discovered incidentally during routine abdominal scans and that the pope had not exhibited any symptoms prior to the finding. Experts describe the diagnosis as consistent with stage I lung cancer, for which surgery alone often proves curative if detected early.

Looking ahead, Pope Leo plans to undertake a significant international trip from November 6 to 17, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. His medical team indicated there is no clinical reason to postpone the trip, which involves multiple flights, helicopter transfers, and high-altitude stops. The pope had previously disclosed his upcoming surgery during a public blessing, marking a shift toward greater transparency regarding his health.