Overview
- Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung in a surgery on 13 October, and he was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Clinic a few days later to begin recovery.
- Treating physicians published final histological and molecular results on 21 October confirming the lesion was a lung adenocarcinoma limited to the resected lobe and that an oncological review found no need for additional therapy.
- The Pope has resumed public duties, including the Angelus and a general audience, and his medical team says routine follow-up and respiratory rehabilitation will continue during recovery.
- The Vatican and clinicians say there is no clinical reason to cancel his planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in early November, though doctors noted the high-altitude stop in Cusco will be monitored and the itinerary could be adjusted if needed.
- The doctors’ public medical bulletin reflects an unusually open approach to papal health and notes that removing one lung lobe typically causes only a modest drop in lung capacity, so the focus now is on surveillance and gradual return to full activity.