Pope Leo XIV was discharged Saturday from Gemelli Hospital in Rome, days after surgery to remove a cancerous node from his right lung, the Holy See announced.
“Following the doctors’ assessment this morning, Pope Leo XIV will be discharged today from Gemelli Hospital, where he was hospitalized for surgery on his right lung,” the Holy See said in a statement. “He will leave the hospital in the early afternoon and return to the Vatican. Tomorrow, he will lead the Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment.”
Before leaving, the pope underwent blood tests and a chest X-ray, both of which confirmed he was well enough to return to the Vatican, according to Vatican News. He was also set to celebrate mass in a room on the hospital’s 10th floor before departing, the Holy See press office said.
The pontiff had thoracic surgery Tuesday to remove the node, and doctors subsequently diagnosed him with lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer. The Holy See press office said he spent roughly three hours in the operating room, with the procedure itself lasting about 90 minutes, and that “the doctors said it was successful and there were no complications.”
Vatican News said the pope “awoke normally after surgery and, following a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor.”
A Call to Putin During Recovery
Even while recovering, Pope Leo made a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin urging a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, which Russian forces have controlled since May.
According to a Vatican statement, “the Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population.” The statement added that “the Holy Father reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peace.”
Oleshky has had no humanitarian food deliveries allowed in since Russia took control, and the city currently lacks electricity, gas and running water, with its hospital barely functioning, according to prior reporting.
Pope Leo is scheduled to lead the Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment on Sunday, marking his return to public duties following the surgery.
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