Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital four days after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung following a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the Vatican has confirmed.
The 71-year-old pontiff left the hospital on Saturday afternoon and returned to the Vatican after his medical team determined that his condition was stable enough for him to continue recovering outside the hospital.
Pope Leo XIV leaves Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after being discharged following surgery for lung cancer.
In a statement issued on Saturday morning, the Holy See Press Office said the Pope had undergone blood tests and a chest X-ray. His doctors, Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, said the results, together with their clinical assessment, confirmed that he was fit for discharge.
The discharge marks a significant step in the Pope’s recovery following the operation performed on Tuesday, October 13, at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
After leaving Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, Pope Leo returned to the Vatican, where he will continue his recovery following the surgery.
The Pope walked out of the hospital unaided and acknowledged well-wishers who had gathered outside the facility. He also waved to people as his vehicle departed.
His discharge came after four days of hospital care, during which the Vatican continued to issue updates on his health and recovery.
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to lead the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 18, from the window of the papal apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
The prayer will mark his first scheduled public engagement since undergoing surgery and returning to the Vatican.
The Angelus is a regular Sunday occasion during which the Pope leads prayers and addresses pilgrims and other faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. His planned appearance will provide an opportunity for the public to see him following his hospitalisation.
