Pope’s surgeon details operating on the “ideal patient” after lung cancer discovery “entirely by chance”

October 17, 2026 / 3:53 PM EDT / CBS News

The surgeon who operated on Pope Leo XIV earlier this week detailed in an interview with Vatican News how the pope's cancer was discovered, moments before and after his surgical procedure and the importance of prevention.

The pope was discharged from the hospital Saturday — four days after his surgery — to a large crowd of well-wishers cheering for him.

Dr. Stefano Margaritora, director of the thoracic surgery unit at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation, spoke to the Vatican News in a lengthy interview and said the pope's lung cancer was discovered "entirely by chance."

"The Holy Father falls into the category of people who discover they have lung cancer entirely by chance — not because they are undergoing preventive screening, but because they undergo examinations for other reasons," Margaritora said.

Margaritora said the tumor was found at the base of the right lung, but if it had been "a little higher up, it certainly would not have been seen."

Unfortunately, the doctor said, in its early stages, cancers can show no symptoms — such as the lung cancer the pope was diagnosed with. That's why regular preventive checkups…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/