Pope Leo needs no further treatment after cancer surgery, doctors say
Pope Leo XIV has been cleared of further treatment following successful surgery to remove a cancerous lung nodule. Doctors confirmed the cancer had not spread, and the pontiff is expected to gradually resume his duties.
Why it matters
The health of the leader of the Catholic Church is a matter of global interest, and this positive prognosis ensures stability for the Vatican's leadership.
The 71-year-old leader of the Catholic church has had the lower lobe of his right lung removed in surgery.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd at the end of the weekly general audience at St Peter's Square in The Vatican on October 21, 2026 [Tiziana Fabi/AFP] By Al Jazeera Staff , AP and Reuters Published On 21 Oct 2026 21 Oct 2026 Pope Leo XIV needs no further treatment for lung cancer after confirming the disease had not spread following recent surgery, the Vatican announced in a statement from doctors.
“A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required,” the pope’s lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said Wednesday.
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