Pope will not need further cancer treatment, doctors say

Pope Leo will not need any further treatment after surgery for lung cancer last week, his doctors have said, indicating that the tumour had not spread.

The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on 13 October and was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.

In a statement released by the Vatican, his doctors said final examinations of the tissue removed had confirmed the diagnosis and that the disease had remained localised.

"A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required," said the pope's lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Luigi Carbone.

Back in St Peter's Square

Leo was discharged from hospital on Saturday and is gradually returning to his normal duties. On Wednesday he was back in St Peter's Square for his weekly general audience with pilgrims.

He had continued to work from hospital, including making a phone call last Friday to Vladimir Putin, in which he urged the Russian president to agree a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.

Last Sunday he told crowds in St Peter's Square that he would "gradually resume" his activities. He thanked those who had prayed for him and said the experience had made him feel especially close "to all those who are going through illness or a state of infirmity".

South America trip in doubt

It is still unclear whether the pope will go ahead with a planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November.

Professor Margaritora said last week that there were "no clinical reasons" to stop him travelling, but the Vatican's secretary of state indicated that the pontiff might need to slow the pace of his schedule to help his recovery.

An active pope

Before the diagnosis, Leo, who enjoys sports including tennis, was generally thought to be in good health. He often uses the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.

Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, he was elected in May last year as the first pope from the United States, succeeding Pope Francis. He spent much of his career as a missionary and bishop in Peru, which he is due to visit on the planned trip, and holds Peruvian as well as American citizenship.

Lung adenocarcinoma begins in the cells that line the small airways and is the type of lung cancer most often found in people who have never smoked. When it is found early and has not spread, surgery to remove the affected part of the lung can be the only treatment needed.