Pope Leo XIV supposedly needs no further treatment for lung cancer after it was allegedly confirmed that the disease had not spread following recent surgery, the Vatican announced in a statement attributed to his medical team.

A subsequent oncological evaluation has purportedly confirmed that no further therapy is required, the pope's lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Luigi Carbone, stated in a release issued on Wednesday.

The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung surgically removed on October 13 after being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Leo was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday, four days after his operation, with the Vatican claiming he would gradually resume his activities. On Wednesday, he reportedly returned to St Peter's Square for his weekly audience with pilgrims.

Additional treatment is generally offered in cases where follow-up testing finds signs that the cancer has spread, such as through the lymph nodes, or if other indicators suggest it might be particularly aggressive. Surgery can often be sufficient when tumours are caught at an early stage, as the Catholic leader's condition was initially found during an unrelated medical examination.

The pontiff allegedly carried on his official business while hospitalized, including holding a call with Russian authorities. He has since appeared in public events and remains committed to an upcoming overseas trip to South America, despite the considerable travel demands involved.

Source: www.aljazeera.com