Pope Leo XIV Leaves Hospital After Lung Surgery
Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital four days after surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his lung. The 71-year-old walked unaided to a waiting car and stopped to speak with well-wishers. Doctors said blood tests and a chest X-ray showed steady improvement following the operation.
Tuesday’s surgery lasted 90 minutes and included the removal of the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung. Results of further tests to determine whether the cancer has spread have not yet been announced. The Vatican has cleared his schedule until 20 October, although it said he plans to give the traditional Angelus prayer and blessing in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.
Photographs released on Friday showed the Pope celebrating Mass and distributing communion to hospital staff. His planned appearance in St Peter’s Square follows last Sunday’s Angelus, when he announced that he would undergo surgery. It remains unclear whether he will need further treatment or be fit to travel in the coming weeks.
The Pope also spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, their first call since June 2025. According to the Vatican, the conversation was intended to encourage “dialogue and peace.” The call took place amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and rising civilian casualties.
Separately, the Pope called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshkiy, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city under shelling. He said a pause was needed to evacuate residents and deliver food and medicine. The BBC has reported that some residents have resorted to eating garden weeds.
People close to the Pope said he hopes to proceed with an early-November trip to Latin America, including Peru, where he spent many years as a missionary. Whether his recovery will allow the trip to go ahead has not been determined. The Vatican has not announced a decision on travel or any additional treatment.