Pope Leo XIV Discharged After Lung Cancer Surgery, Resumes Duties Swiftly

Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from the Gemelli hospital, just four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. The 71-year-old pontiff, who is the first American pope, walked out unaided on Saturday, greeting well-wishers, including a young Ukrainian girl who presented him with a stuffed toy.

The Pope was admitted on Tuesday for the removal of a nodule identified as pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Doctors confirmed he was ready for release following blood tests and an X-ray. He is expected to deliver the traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, a week after announcing the need for surgery.

News of the Pope's illness has caused concern within the Vatican and raised questions about the future of his papacy. Elected in May at the age of 69, Pope Leo XIV is known to be in good physical condition, with a history of enjoying sports like tennis and swimming.

Despite the health scare, the Vatican is cautiously assessing the Pope's packed travel schedule to Latin America from November 6-17, which includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See Secretary of State, stated that decisions on travel would depend on the Pope's post-discharge health. "We need to see how the Pope feels once he is discharged—what his state of health is—and based on that, he will decide whether to keep or cancel his trips," Parolin told reporters.

The Pope has continued to work from the hospital since his surgery, holding meetings with cardinals and speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Oleshky, Ukraine. His doctors indicated on Saturday that there were no clinical reasons to prevent his upcoming trip to Latin America, anticipating a full physical recovery within a couple of weeks.

While past popes have prepared letters of resignation in cases of severe illness, Cardinal Parolin does not believe Pope Leo XIV has done so, stating, "I don’t think he left anything. It didn’t even seem to me that there was any need and that the matter was so serious to be able to foresee an absence of government."

In related news, just days before his surgery, the Pope appointed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the Dean of the College of Cardinals, a significant role in papal elections.