Pope Leo XIV Discharged from Hospital After Successful Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican, just four days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung at Rome's Gemelli University Hospital. Emerging from the hospital on October 17, 2026, the Pope expressed that he was feeling "much better" when questioned about his health by onlookers who called out "holiness" as he departed. The surgery involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung, confirming a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Doctors have indicated his "continued improvement" and he is expected to resume some duties as early as Sunday, commencing with the traditional Angelus blessing to the faithful.

Since his operation, Pope Leo has maintained a degree of activity, including a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meetings with senior aides, and celebrating mass in a temporary hospital chapel. A Vatican spokesperson relayed that the Pope extended his gratitude to the hospital staff for their daily dedication to caring for the sick in their vulnerability, and specifically for their care during his own treatment.

Pope Leo's next significant commitment is a planned trip to Latin America in mid-November. This engagement allows him approximately three weeks to recover before embarking on a demanding itinerary that includes numerous flights and helicopter journeys. Pope Leo, the first pontiff from the United States, originally from Chicago, has extensive experience in South America, where he lived and worked for decades, and holds naturalized Peruvian citizenship.