Surgeon Details Pope Leo XIV’s Accidental Cancer Discovery and Recovery
Explore the details behind Pope Leo XIV's accidental lung cancer diagnosis, successful surgery at Gemelli Hospital, and his fast recovery.
POLICY WIRE — Vatican City, Rome — The medical professional who performed surgery on Pope Leo XIV earlier this week has provided fresh insight into how the pontiff’s medical condition was uncovered entirely by accident, alongside details from the procedure and subsequent recovery period.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, who serves as the director of the thoracic surgery unit at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation, shared these details during an extensive interview with Vatican News following the successful operation.
According to Margaritora, the pontiff falls into the specific group of individuals who identify lung cancer completely by chance rather than through targeted preventive screenings, having undergone medical examinations for unrelated reasons.
The tumor was located at the base of the right lung, and the surgeon noted that had the mass been positioned slightly higher, it almost certainly would have remained undetected.
Highlighting the silent nature of early-stage malignancies, the doctor emphasized the critical role of regular preventive health checkups, noting that the pope experienced no respiratory symptoms whatsoever and felt in perfect health prior to the diagnosis.
The 71-year-old pontiff originally disclosed the medical news to thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square during the conclusion of his Sunday noon blessing last week.
Margaritora described the procedure to excise a lung nodule as standard and noted it proceeded completely without complications, resulting in a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, which is a frequent form of the disease.
During a four-day recovery stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the medical team found the pontiff to be an exceptional patient who created no difficulties for the staff tending to his needs.
Staff members discovered the pope on his second postoperative day rearranging furniture in the hospital’s temporary chapel, responding to offers of assistance by stating that he was fully capable of doing the work himself.
The pope was discharged from the medical facility Saturday amid enthusiastic cheers from a large gathering of well-wishers.
By Thursday, the pontiff had already recommenced select work responsibilities, and by Friday, he participated in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Photographs released by the Vatican showed the American-born pope standing at an altar wearing green vestments while celebrating Mass inside a small hospital chapel.
His recent schedule also included separate audiences with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who serves as the dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar general of the Diocese of Rome.
Looking ahead, the pope maintains an upcoming international itinerary with a scheduled journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
