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Pope's Surgeon Says No Clinical Reasons to Cancel South America Trip
Confirmed
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.
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, said Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope's personal physician.
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.
Dr. Margaritora said, 'Since almost a week has already passed, I believe the pope could be fully recovered in another 10 days or so. 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 surgeon called the pope 'an ideal patient' and said he expects Leo will be fully recovered and in shape to travel within the next '10 days or so.'
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.
Doctors said tests confirmed the pope's 'continued improvement,' and his lung's re-expansion after surgery is proceeding according to the usual timetable.
The pope 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.
The pope said, 'I am much better, thank you,' when asked how he was as he was driven away in a black SUV.
The Vatican revealed that the pope had been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma following routine abdominal examinations.
The pope's determination to recover quickly has been effective in every respect, according to Dr. Margaritora.
The surgeon noted that the pope needed very little assistance from them and followed every stage of their guidance on diet and physiotherapy.
The pope was always serene, always smiling, and rarely complained, despite the pain a person inevitably feels, even with all the measures we take, said Dr. Margaritora.
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.
Vatican News is the official news portal of the Holy See, serving as a source of information about the activities, pronouncements, and events related to the global Catholic Church and the operations of the Holy See.
What's confirmed
- His surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican News that there are “no clinical reasons” the pope should not make his planned trip to South America, Nov. 6 to 17.
- 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.
- The Vatican announced at 11:30 a.m. local time that the pope would be discharged.
- She thanked him for giving her strength to overcome the illness and gave him a gift of a stuffed toy dressed as a pope.
- 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.
- 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."
- 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 was always serene, always smiling, and rarely complained, despite the pain a person inevitably feels, even with all the measures we take,” he said.
- “The lung’s re-expansion after surgery is proceeding according to the usual timetable,” and “overall, his condition is good,” Margaritora added.
- “In the Holy Father’s case, he had no respiratory symptoms and felt perfectly well,” the doctor noted.
What's still developing
- The surgery went ahead “without any complications,” he said, and he was “truly pleased” with the pope’s recovery.
- Professor Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who operated on Pope Leo XIV’s lung on Tuesday, October 13, told Vatican News that, from a medical standpoint, the Pope can undertake the demanding visit to Latin America scheduled for November 6–17.
- “I don’t believe it, because he was just operated on the other day,” Cosimo Mastrocinque, a retired factory worker visiting the Vatican from the southern region of Puglia, said.
- Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional noon blessing after praying the Angelus with Pope Leo XIV, Sunday, Oct.
Sources
- America Magazinelink
- EWTN Newslink
- The Mercury Newslink
- The Tablet Catholic Newspaperlink
- Vatican Newslink
- Aciafricalink
- Bozemandailychroniclelink
- Warpbeatlink
- Angelusnewslink
- Ncregisterlink
- NBC Newslink
- PBSlink
- Kwtxlink
- WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV's Surgeon Clears Path for South America Trip link
- Wikipedia — background on South America link
- Wikipedia — background on Vatican News link