Pope Leo XIV has been cleared by his surgeon to proceed with his planned November 6–17 apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, just days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous lung nodule, Vatican News reports. Dr. Stefano Margaritora, who directs thoracic surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital and operated on the 71-year-old pontiff on October 13, said he expects the pope to be fully recovered and fit to travel within about ten days.
"There are no clinical reasons why it should not take place," Margaritora told Vatican News in an interview following the pope's October 17 discharge, according to the National Catholic Register. He described Leo as "an ideal patient," noting that upon leaving the hospital the pope was in entirely satisfactory clinical condition with completely normal blood test results and heart function. The lung's re-expansion after surgery was proceeding according to the usual timetable, the surgeon added.
Margaritora also revealed that the pope's lung adenocarcinoma was discovered entirely by accident during routine abdominal examinations, underscoring the importance of regular preventive checkups. "In the Holy Father's case, he had no respiratory symptoms and felt perfectly well," the doctor said. He praised the pope's determination during recovery, recalling that on the second day after the operation, medical staff found him arranging chairs in the hospital chapel himself. "Holy Father, we can do that," Margaritora recounted telling him. But Leo replied: "It doesn't matter, I can do it, so I will."
The clearance is welcome news for the faithful in three South American countries awaiting the visit. The pope's brother, Louis Prevost, expressed surprise in an interview that the demanding trip would proceed, EWTN Vatican reports. Leo did, however, skip his usual Monday-evening-through-Tuesday-evening stay at the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo southeast of Rome this week as he continues to pace his recovery.
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