Pope Leo XIV: final histology confirms localized lung adenocarcinoma, no further therapy needed
After the General Audience on 21 October, the first since the surgery, verified updates on the apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru
Pope Leo XIV is recovering in the Vatican after his lung surgery on 13 October at the Gemelli Hospital, from which he was discharged on 17 October. At the Angelus on 18 October he said: "I will gradually resume my activities" (vatican.va).
The General Audience. On Wednesday 21 October Pope Leo XIV held the General Audience in St Peter's Square, his first since his surgery at the Gemelli Hospital on 13 October.
The schedule. The Prefecture of the Papal Household cancelled all audiences until Tuesday 20 October (statement B0807). Here we follow the Pope's gradual return to his engagements.
The Latin America trip. The apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru is scheduled for 6–17 November: since the surgery the Holy See has not yet officially confirmed that it will go ahead as planned. The surgeon Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News there are no clinical reasons against the trip: this is a medical assessment, not a confirmation from the Holy See (the interview with the surgeon). The full picture in our explainer (what we know and what the risks are).
How to read this page. Here we gather official statements, comments and verified news, each with its source. News from the countries on the itinerary and press reports not confirmed by the Holy See are marked REPORT.
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- Wednesday 21 October21:30Latest
Live coverage ends: disease localized, no further therapy needed
21 October, 9:30 p.m. (Rome) · This live coverage ends here. In tonight's Press Office note, doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora reported the outcome of the final histological examinations: "The results confirmed that the tumor was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary", according to the official English text published by Vatican News.
The full timeline and the outlook for the South America trip are in our article: read the article.
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Pope Leo XIV: final histology confirms a localized lung adenocarcinoma, no further therapy needed
21 October, 9:13 p.m. (Rome) · Pope Leo XIV: final histology confirms a localized lung adenocarcinoma, and no further therapy is needed.
His doctors, Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, said in a Holy See Press Office note: "The final histopathology and molecular testing reports on the tissue removed during the Holy Father’s surgery were issued today. The results confirmed that the tumor was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary", according to the official English text published by Vatican News.
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Peru: Nuncio Paolo Rocco Gualtieri says "The trip is confirmed"
21 October, 8:12 p.m. (Rome) · Peru: Apostolic Nuncio Paolo Rocco Gualtieri told EWTN News: “This morning the Holy Father held the general audience and we saw him recovered. The trip is confirmed. We await him with great joy” (our translation).
He spoke today in Lima on the sidelines of the National Prayer Breakfast with President Keiko Fujimori. The Peru leg is reported for Nov 11-16, dates not yet officially confirmed by the Holy See Press Office.
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Paolo Rocco Gualtieri, nunzio apostolico in Perù, a Lima il 21 ottobre 2026 (José Toledo/EWTN News) / Paolo Rocco Gualtieri, Apostolic Nuncio to Peru, in Lima on 21 October 2026 (José Toledo/EWTN News) Peru's government awaits the Vatican's final word on the Pope's trip
21 October, 7:46 p.m. (Rome) · Peru's government awaits the Vatican's final word on the Pope's trip.
President Keiko Fujimori, live on Canal N: "We still don't have a final opinion from the Vatican; we are waiting to see how Pope Leo XIV's health recovers. From the images we see, thank God, he is recovering. The last word belongs to the Vatican" (our translation).
Foreign Minister Carlos Espá told TV Perú: "Until we receive information to the contrary, everything stays the same; the visit remains perfectly organized" (our translation). A third Vatican advance team arrives on Oct 26 and will also inspect the Estadio Nacional.
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General Audience: the Pope stops the popemobile to bless a baby in a Peru jersey
21 October, 6:43 p.m. (Rome) · General Audience: during his popemobile tour of St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV had the vehicle stop when he saw a baby wearing Peru's national team jersey, held up by his parents. He made the sign of the cross on the child's forehead and blessed the family, Peruvian daily Trome reports.
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Peru: bookings for the Pope's Mass at Las Palmas open next week
21 October, 6:16 p.m. (Rome) · Peru: bookings for free tickets to the Mass Pope Leo XIV is expected to celebrate on November 16 at the Las Palmas Air Base in Lima, the last day of his visit to the country, will open next week, Juan Bytton, general secretary of the visit for the Archdiocese of Lima, told the Foreign Press Association in Peru, without giving details of the system.
According to the Andina news agency, about 1.2 million faithful are expected. The trip has not yet been officially confirmed by the Holy See Press Office.
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Source: Vatican Report