Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. His surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, stated that there are no medical reasons to prevent the pope from embarking on his upcoming trip to Latin America next month. The 71-year-old pontiff is expected to fully recover from the surgery within the next 10 days.
The surgery, which involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung, revealed that Pope Leo had adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Despite this, he left the hospital earlier than anticipated and expressed feeling much better as he interacted with patients and well-wishers.
Dr. Margaritora mentioned that the cancer was detected incidentally during routine examinations and was in its early stages. Further tests are being conducted to determine the extent of the cancer and whether additional treatment will be necessary. The surgeon praised the pope’s determination and rapid recovery progress, emphasizing his commendable resilience throughout the process.