VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo will not need additional cancer treatment after surgery to remove part of his right lung, doctors said this week, confirming that the disease had not spread beyond the affected area.

The 71-year-old pope underwent surgery on October 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.

The Vatican said final examinations of the removed tissue, including laboratory and molecular tests, confirmed the diagnosis. The results also showed that the cancer remained confined to the affected area.

Pope Leo's lead surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, and personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said in a statement that further assessment had confirmed no additional treatment was necessary.

The announcement came as questions remained over whether the US-born pontiff would travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to November 17, as planned.

Pope Gradually Returns to Duties

Pope Leo was discharged from hospital on October 17 and has been gradually returning to his usual activities.

On October 21, he returned to St Peter's Square at the Vatican to hold his weekly audience with pilgrims. His appearance marked another step in his recovery following the operation.

Margaritora said last week that no medical reasons prevented the pope from traveling to South America.

However, the Vatican's Secretary of State has suggested the pontiff may need to slow his schedule to fully recover.

The Vatican has not confirmed whether the planned trip will go ahead as scheduled. The pope's recovery and the need to avoid an exhausting program will likely be key factors in the decision.