Pope does not need further treatment after lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital following successful surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his lung, according to doctors. The 71-year-old was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a localized form of lung cancer, after undergoing a 90-minute operation that removed the lower lobe of his right lung on October 13th.

Tissue samples confirmed the initial diagnosis, and an oncological assessment has now ruled out the need for further treatment. The Pope was discharged over the weekend, four days after the procedure, and was seen speaking to well-wishers before leaving the hospital grounds. He made his first public appearance since the surgery at St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, holding his weekly general audience.

Earlier, the pontiff had announced the surgery during his Sunday prayers, stating that the cancer had been detected at an early stage. The Vatican reported that the Pope held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his hospital stay, urging a ceasefire in conflict zones and advocating for dialogue and peace.

The Pope is also planning a trip to Latin America in early November, a journey his health condition was not expected to delay.