John Paul II, No Cancer - but a Tumour

 
BILD (German Newspaper), 7/21/1992

John Paul II, No Cancer - but a Tumour

The world breathes a sigh of relief: Pope John Paul II (72) has "no incipient cancer", according to Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls. However, the tumour that had been removed from his intestinal tract had contained "a small number of cells that were about to become malignant".

Final Diagnosis
Pope does not suffer from Cancer

Rome. (ap) The Pope is not suffering from cancer: Thorough examinations have confirmed the diagnosis that the tumour removed from Pope John Paul II's intestine last week was only benign. As Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro announced yesterday, the doctors only found cancerous cells in its centre. But he said it had not yet been decided whether the head of the Catholic Church would be able to leave the hospital as planned next weekend. Navarro said the Pope had shown great sympathy and dismay regarding the bloody mafia attack in Palermo. The attack was an "insult to Italy", he said.