Pope Leo XIV receives discharge four days after lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo XIV is released from Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday, four days after undergoing surgery to treat lung cancer. The pontiff left the hospital unit during the afternoon and returned to the Vatican.

Leo XIV had been interned on Tuesday (13). During the procedure, doctors removed the lower lobe of the right lung, where adenocarcinoma of the lung was located. The surgery took place without complications, according to information released by the medical team.

Before the release, the pope underwent new blood tests and a chest X-ray. After evaluating the pontiff’s results and clinical conditions, the doctors authorized hospital discharge.

Leo XIV greeted members of the medical team and people who were gathered at the site. Then he followed by car towards the Vatican.

Recovery is considered satisfactory

According to surgeon Stefano Margaritora, responsible for the operation, the Pope’s clinical conditions at the time of discharge were satisfactory. Blood tests were within normal range and lung recovery was progressing as expected.

The doctor also stated that the surgery took place without complications and that complete recovery should take approximately another ten days.

The adenocarcinoma was discovered incidentally during previous examinations. According to Margaritora, Leo XIV had no respiratory symptoms before the discovery of the disease.

Pope must resume commitments

With the high, the expectation is that the pontiff will gradually resume his agenda. Leo XIV is due to attend the traditional Sunday prayers at the Vatican, marking his return to public activities just days after surgery.

The medical team also assessed that, so far, there are no clinical contraindications for the pope’s apostolic trip to South America, scheduled for November.

Leo XIV, 71, became pope in May 2025. The hospitalization and diagnosis of lung cancer has drawn international attention to the health status of the leader of the Catholic Church.

Despite the concern caused by the diagnosis, doctors in charge of treatment say that recovery after surgery is occurring within the expected range. The Vatican should continue to disclose information on the clinical evolution and the resumption of the pontiff’s official commitments.