Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday after being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, four days after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed he had lung cancer.
The 71-year-old pontiff left the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital shortly after 3:30 pm local time, walking steadily, smiling and greeting the faithful gathered at the entrance, according to reports. Before getting into his car he blessed several patients and accepted their gifts, and was reported to have told well-wishers he was feeling much better. His discharge came earlier than expected: the Holy See Press Office had originally indicated he would remain in hospital for about a week following his admission on October 13.
The operation lasted about 90 minutes and used a video-assisted technique. Tissue examined during the procedure confirmed a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. The pope’s personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, and the chief surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, announced the discharge after reviewing blood tests and a chest X-ray that morning, following the Vatican’s confirmation of the lung-cancer diagnosis earlier in the week.
First American Pope on the Mend
The recovery carries particular resonance in the United States. Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, Leo XIV is the first American-born pope, elected last May after the death of Pope Francis. Catholics across the United States have followed his recovery closely since he disclosed, during his October 11 Angelus address, that recent examinations had found a “well-contained” lung nodule detected at a very early stage.
The Vatican said the pope would lead the Sunday Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace on October 18, his first public engagement since the surgery. All of his appointments and audiences have been cancelled until at least October 20, and reports say he is having physiotherapy to help his breathing. Even from his hospital bed he stayed engaged with world affairs: he celebrated Mass in a hospital room, met senior aides and spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking for a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
A Family Confronting Cancer
The pope’s illness arrives at a difficult moment for his family. His older brother, Louis Prevost, is also undergoing cancer treatment, for multiple myeloma, according to reports. And in the week since the pope’s diagnosis became public, messages of support have poured in from around the world — a reminder that his recovery will be watched closely, far beyond Rome.
