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Pope Leo's Surgeon Says No Clinical Reasons to Cancel Latin America Trip
· Confirmed
In Short: Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, said there are no clinical reasons why Pope Leo should not travel to Latin America as scheduled.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, said there are no clinical reasons why Pope Leo should not travel to Latin America as scheduled from November 6 to 17.
According to Margaritora, Pope Leo is expected to be fully recovered and in shape to travel within the next '10 days or so.' He noted that upon discharge from the hospital, the Pope was in entirely satisfactory clinical condition with completely normal blood test results and heart function.
Margaritora emphasized that Pope Leo had no respiratory symptoms and felt perfectly well during his hospital stay. He also highlighted the Pope's determination to recover quickly, which he described as 'truly commendable.'
The surgeon told Vatican News that the Pope's lung adenocarcinoma was discovered during routine abdominal examinations, underscoring the importance of regular preventive checkups.
Pope Leo, born in Chicago but shaped by nearly two decades of missionary service in Peru, views the trip as more than administrative. He greeted patients inside the hospital accompanied by his surgeon, before waving to well-wishers outside.
The Pope presided alone over the liturgy and distributed Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes, according to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.
Margaritora acknowledged that the procedure to remove the lower lobe of Pope Leo's right lung was 'routine' and 'without complications,' but noted that it 'stirred deep feelings' to operate on a pope, who for the first time – at least in modern history – is undergoing surgery for a malignant tumor.
The Vatican announced at 11:30 a.m. local time that the Pope would be discharged, less than a month before he is scheduled to jet off for a two-week trip to South America.
The surgeon indicated that Pope Leo's lung adenocarcinoma was discovered during routine abdominal examinations, underscoring the importance of regular preventive checkups.
The Pope appeared to accept a gift of a homemade smiling Pope figure before getting in a car and being driven back to the Vatican.
Cosimo Mastrocinque, a retired factory worker visiting the Vatican from the southern region of Puglia, expressed disbelief at the Pope's quick recovery, saying, 'I don’t believe it, because he was just operated on the other day.'
What this adds
The surgeon's comments align with previous reports from WarpBeat, which also stated there were no clinical reasons to prevent the Pope from traveling to South America.
The Pope's discharge came well ahead of the weeklong hospital stay that had been initially anticipated.
Background
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who operated on Pope Leo XIV, told Vatican News that there are no clinical reasons to prevent the Pope from traveling to South America as scheduled from November 6 to 17.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, said there were no clinical reasons why the trip should not take place.
What's confirmed
- 13, said he expects Leo will be fully recovered and in shape to travel within the next “10 days or so.” Calling him “an ideal patient,” Margaritora said that upon his discharge from the hospital Leo “was in entirely satisfactory clinical condition” with completely normal blood test results and heart function.
- 6–17 apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
- “His determination to recover quickly has been effective in every respect” and “truly commendable,” he pointed out.
- VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo’s surgeon told Vatican media on Saturday that there were “no clinical reasons” to prevent him from traveling to Latin America as scheduled Nov. 6-17.
- "The Holy Father has put his heart and soul into his recovery," Dr. Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News, adding that he expected the pope to recover fully from surgery "in another 10 days or so."
- Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News, adding that he expected the pope to recover fully from surgery "in another 10 days or so." WATCH: What we know about Pope Leo's lung cancer and prognosis Leo, 71, is scheduled to make an ambitious Nov.
- Leo greeted patients inside the hospital accompanied by his surgeon, before waving to well-wishers outside who cried out "Holiness" as he walked to a waiting vehicle.
- He told a reporter in English that he was doing ‘’much better’’ as he drove away from Rome’s Gemelli hospital to return to the Vatican, well ahead of the weeklong hospital stay than had been initially anticipated.
- Dr. Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News there were “no clinical reasons” preventing the pontiff from making his planned trip to Latin America next month.
- “As for a long trip involving air travel in about three weeks, I would say there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place,” Margaritora said.
What's still developing
- Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional noon blessing after praying the Angelus with Pope Leo XIV, Sunday, Oct.
- Carbone, said: “Based on the blood tests and chest X-ray performed this morning, and after evaluating his clinical condition, the Holy Father has been deemed fit for discharge.” The 71-year-old Augustinian pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday and underwent surgery that same day, during which his doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung.