Pope Leo XIV’s lung cancer was discovered by chance after tests for another reason, the surgeon who operated on him has said, as the pontiff recovered from the removal of a tumour at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital.
Dr Stefano Margaritora, director of thoracic surgery at the hospital foundation, said the 71-year-old pope had felt well and had shown no respiratory symptoms before the cancer was found.
“The Holy Father falls into the category of people who discover they have lung cancer entirely by chance — not because they are undergoing preventive screening, but because they undergo examinations for other reasons,” he said.
The tumour was located at the base of the right lung. Dr Margaritora said it might not have been detected had it been “a little higher up”. The pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer, during the operation.
He said the procedure to remove the lung nodule was routine and completed “without any complications”. The surgeon also stressed that cancers can cause no symptoms in their early stages, making preventive medical checks important.
Pope Leo was discharged on Saturday, four days after the surgery, to cheers from a large crowd gathered outside the hospital.
During his recovery, Dr Margaritora described him as “an ideal patient”, adding: “I am not saying that to flatter him. He truly did not cause the slightest problem for the team caring for him …”
On the second day after the operation, medical staff reportedly found the pope arranging chairs in a makeshift hospital chapel. When they offered to do it for him, he replied: “It doesn’t matter. I can do it, so I will.”
The American-born pontiff resumed some work on Thursday and spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin the following day. The Vatican also released photographs of him celebrating Mass in green vestments at the hospital chapel.
Before leaving Gemelli, Pope Leo held meetings with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome.
He is scheduled to travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
