Pope Leo XIV will need no further treatment after tumour surgery

Pope Leo XIV will not need any additional treatment after surgery to remove a tumour from his right lung, his doctors said on Wednesday.

Tests on the tissue removed confirmed it was localised lung adenocarcinoma, according to a statement from the Vatican.

“Further oncological assessment has confirmed that no additional treatment is necessary”, the statement said.

The 71-year-old pontiff underwent surgery on 13 October. The 90-minute operation involved removing the lower lobe of his right lung. He was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital four days later.

On Wednesday, Leo XIV resumed his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square. It was his first since leaving hospital. The Pope had announced days earlier that he would undergo surgery after doctors detected an early-stage lung nodule.