Pope Leo XIV discharged from hospital after lung cancer surgery
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday, following a four-day recovery period after surgery for lung cancer. The 71-year-old pontiff returned to the Vatican without assistance.
As he left the hospital, Leo interacted briefly with well-wishers gathered outside, expressing gratitude for their support. “I am better, thank you,” he said before being driven away in a black sports utility vehicle.
The surgery, performed on Tuesday, involved the removal of the lower lobe of Leo’s right lung after a nodule suspected of being cancerous was discovered. Subsequent examinations confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
According to his medical team, the surgery was successful and completed without complications. However, they have not released information regarding the size of the tumor or whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, details that are crucial for assessing the pope’s prognosis.
The diagnosis has raised concerns about the health of the relatively youthful and vigorous leader of the Catholic Church, who was elected pope in May 2025, and its potential impact on his papacy.
Despite this health challenge, Pope Leo is expected to lead the traditional weekly prayer with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square at noon on Sunday, marking his first public engagement since the operation. The prayer session is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. GMT.
