Pope Leo XIV Discharged Four Days After Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, October 17, four days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung, the Vatican confirmed. The 71-year-old pontiff returned to the Vatican after doctors assessed his condition and determined that he was well enough to leave hospital.

The Holy See Press Office said the Pope’s medical team reviewed blood test results and a chest X-ray on Saturday morning before approving his discharge. The assessment followed an operation on Tuesday, October 13, during which surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted technique. The Vatican reported that the procedure was completed successfully without complications.

During the operation, an examination of the removed tissue confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer that begins in glandular cells and is among the most common types of lung cancer. The Pope had disclosed before the procedure that doctors had found a small, localised nodule in his lung, which they considered best treated through surgery.

The 70-year-old Pope walked out of the hospital unaided on Saturday and acknowledged well-wishers who had gathered outside the facility. Before leaving, he celebrated Mass in a room set aside for worship on the hospital’s 10th floor. His discharge came earlier than the approximately one-week recovery period initially indicated by the Vatican.

The Vatican said Leo would lead the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St Peter’s Square. The announcement offers an early indication of his return to public duties, although it does not establish when he will resume his full schedule.

Doctors had reported that the Pope’s recovery was progressing normally in the days after surgery. Updates from the Holy See said routine examinations showed a good recovery of the operated lung and that he was able to carry out daily activities independently. However, the Vatican has not publicly detailed whether further treatment will be needed following the surgery.

The Pope’s health is closely watched because of the demands of leading the Roman Catholic Church, which has more than a billion faithful worldwide, and the extensive public and diplomatic responsibilities attached to the office. Leo, elected in May 2025, is also scheduled to visit South America in November, though his discharge alone does not confirm whether every planned engagement will proceed unchanged. His recovery and any further medical guidance will therefore remain important factors in determining the pace of his return to the full duties of the papacy.