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Pope Leo's Surgeon Clears Path for South America Trip
· Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Gemelli Hospital on Saturday after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, with his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, saying he could be fully recovered in about 10 days.
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Gemelli Hospital on Saturday after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, with his surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, saying he could be fully recovered in about 10 days.
In a joint statement released by the Vatican, Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope's personal physician, and Dr. Margaritora 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.'
Dr. Margaritora told Vatican News there were 'no clinical reasons' preventing the pontiff from making his planned trip to Latin America next month. He added that the pope had been an 'ideal patient' and was in 'entirely satisfactory clinical condition' with completely normal blood test results and heart function.
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. The surgery went ahead 'without any complications,' Dr. Margaritora said.
Pope Leo stopped to speak with a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl named Varvara who had previously greeted him while being treated for cancer in Rome earlier this year. Varvara explained to the pope that his embrace of her before her own cancer surgery in December had given her 'the strength to overcome the illness.'
Dr. Margaritora noted that the pope's determination to recover quickly had been 'truly commendable.' He said, 'He followed every stage of our guidance on diet and physiotherapy. He got back on his feet and always did a little more than we asked of him.'
The surgeon also highlighted the importance of regular preventive checkups, as the pope's lung adenocarcinoma was discovered during routine abdominal examinations.
The Vatican announced at 11:30 a.m. local time that the pope would be discharged, and he was deemed fit for discharge based on blood tests and a chest X-ray performed that morning.
Pope Leo's planned trip to South America is set to start Nov. 11, less than a month after his discharge from the hospital.
The pope's discharge comes after a week of recovery, and his doctors have given no indication that he might need any further treatment.
What this adds
The surgeon's statement that there are no clinical reasons to prevent the pope's trip to South America is consistent with previous reports from WarpBeat and other outlets.
The facts do not establish the specific countries the pope will visit in South America, but the trip is scheduled from November 6 to 17.
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 surgeon who operated on Pope Leo XIV, said there are no clinical reasons to prevent the Pope from traveling to South America as scheduled from November 6 to 17.
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern subregion of the Americas.
What's confirmed
- In a joint statement released by the Vatican that morning, the pope's personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and chief surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora 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."
- In an Oct. 17 interview with Vatican News, Margaritora said he saw “no clinical reasons” for why Leo’s planned Nov. 6-13 trip to three South American countries shouldn’t take place.
- The pope’s surgeon thinks Leo should be fully recovered in about 10 days, and sees “no clinical reasons” for cancelling his Nov.
- With the help of a Ukrainian priest as translator, Varvara explained to the pope that his embrace of her before her own cancer surgery in December had given her "the strength to overcome the illness." The girl handed Pope Leo a large printed photo of their hug in St.
- Colleen Barry, Associated Press Colleen Barry, Associated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday days after lung cancer surgery, as his surgeon said there are "no clinical reasons" to prevent his planned trip to Latin America next month.
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · 11:24 AM ET In Short: 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.
- 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.' The Vatican announced at 11:30 a.m. local time that the pope would be discharged, and he was deemed fit for discharge based on blood tests and a chest X-ray performed that morning.
- Dr. Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News there were “no clinical reasons” preventing the pontiff from making his planned trip to Latin America next month.
- Margaritora, the chief thoracic surgeon at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, also confirmed that the nodule was discovered by chance during routine abdominal examinations.
- 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.
- 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.
- “He was always serene, always smiling, and rarely complained, despite the pain a person inevitably feels, even with all the measures we take,” he said.
What's still developing
- 6-13 trip to three South American countries shouldn’t take place.
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- “In the Holy Father’s case, he had no respiratory symptoms and felt perfectly well,” the doctor noted.
- The first American pope smiled, looked well and waved to the crowd.
Sources
- America Magazinelink
- Angelus Newslink
- EWTN Newslink
- Thetabletlink
- Warpbeatlink
- Mercurynewslink
- Bozemandailychroniclelink
- Angelusnewslink
- NBC Newslink
- Fox Newslink
- PBSlink
- Kwtxlink
- WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV's Surgeon Clears Path for South America Trip link
- Wikipedia — background on South America link
- Catholic News World — video link