POPE LEO'S DOCTORS RULE OUT FURTHER CANCER TREATMENT

Pope Leo's doctors say he needs no further treatment after surgery for lung cancer on 13 October. Final tests on tissue removed during the operation found that the disease remained localised, according to a Vatican statement from surgeon Stefano Margaritora and personal physician Luigi Carbone. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung, and the tests confirmed a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. “A subsequent oncological evaluation has confirmed that no further therapy is required,” the doctors said. Leo left Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday, four days after the operation.

Margaritora said doctors found a lung nodule by chance during routine abdominal examinations and that Leo had experienced no symptoms. Leo told people gathered in St Peter's Square on Sunday that he would gradually resume his activities. He returned to the square on Wednesday for his weekly audience with pilgrims. While in hospital, Leo called Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky. The surgery was the first major health event of Leo's 17-month pontificate.

Leo has said he wants to proceed with a planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November. Whether the trip will go ahead remains unclear. Margaritora said last week that there were “no clinical reasons” preventing Leo from travelling to South America. The Vatican's secretary of state indicated that Leo might need to adjust the pace of his schedule during recovery. Leo became the first US-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church in May last year.