# Pope's Surgeon: No Clinical Reason to Cancel South America Visit

> Pope Leo XIV's surgeon confirms no medical issues prevent his November Latin America trip.
- Title: Pope's Surgeon: No Clinical Reason to Cancel South America…
- Summary: Pope Leo XIV's surgeon confirms no medical issues prevent his November Latin America trip. Pope Leo XIV's surgeon says his lung surgery recovery is complete…
- Keywords: pope leo xiv, surgery, lung cancer, south america, vatican news, medical recovery, nfl, religion, world, Pope's, Surgeon, Clinical
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-10/pope-leo-xiv-interview-surgeon-stefano-margaritora.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-10-17T15:18:26.645+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pope leo xiv, surgery, lung cancer, south america, vatican news, medical recovery, nfl, religion, world
## Pope Leo XIV's surgeon
Professor Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who operated on Pope Leo XIV’s lung on Tuesday, October 13.
## Pope's clinical condition
Pope Leo was in entirely satisfactory clinical condition with normal blood tests and fine heart function.
## Lung cancer discovery
The Pope’s lung adenocarcinoma was found accidentally during routine abdominal exams.
## Surgery details
The operation removed the lower right lung lobe and was routine for similar cases.
## Recovery progress
Pope Leo recovered quickly with minimal assistance and no respiratory symptoms.
## Recovery timeline
The Pope could be fully recovered in ten days, ready for November 6-17 South America trip.
## Surgery significance
Operating on a Pope for the first time in modern history with global attention.
## Pope's patient behavior
Pope Leo was an ideal patient who followed recovery instructions and arranged chapel chairs.
## Next steps
Pope Leo XIV will travel to South America for a November 6-17 visit.
## Key takeaway

Pope Leo XIV's surgeon says his lung surgery recovery is complete enough for a November 6-17 South America visit.