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Leo XIV's surgical oncologist said there are no "clinical reasons" to prevent the pontiff's planned trip to Latin America next month, as the pope returned to the Vatican on Saturday, days after undergoing lung surgery.
"The Holy Father, during his postoperative recovery, has been involved body and soul," Dr. Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News, adding that he expected the pope to fully recover from the surgery "within another ten days or so."
Leo, 71, is scheduled to take a trip from November 6 to 17 to Uruguay, Peru, and Argentina, which includes a dozen flights and two helicopter trips at high altitudes.
"Regarding a long trip, with airplane travel, which will take place in approximately three weeks, I would say there are no clinical reasons why it cannot be carried out," Margaritora said.
Leo, 71, had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday. The operation confirmed that he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. He left the hospital on Saturday, well ahead of the week-long hospital stay the Vatican had initially anticipated.
"I'm much better, thank you," the pope said when asked how he was feeling as he drove away in a black SUV.
Leo greeted patients inside the hospital alongside his surgeon, before waving to well-wishers outside who shouted "Your Holiness" as he walked toward a waiting vehicle.
He stopped when a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl gave him a handmade papal doll that she said had helped her during successful cancer treatment. She had briefly met Leo at an audience in St. Peter's Square in December, an encounter that she told reporters "gave her the strength to overcome the illness."
Since the surgery, Leo has given clear indications that he was recovering well. He held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin; met with his top aides; and celebrated Mass in an improvised hospital chapel.
He will assume his first official duty on Sunday, delivering the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful in St. Peter's Square. This will come exactly one week after the pontiff revealed to the crowds in the square that the nodule had been found and would be surgically removed, an unusually frank revelation for the Vatican.
[Publicidad]