Pope Leo discharged from hospital after lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo discharged from hospital after lung cancer surgery | Reuters

Pope Leo XIV was discharged from hospital on Saturday, four days after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung following a diagnosis of lung cancer.

Reuters reported that the 71-year-old pontiff left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday afternoon and returned to the Vatican after doctors confirmed that his condition allowed him to leave hospital.

The Pope walked unaided to his waiting car and briefly spoke to well-wishers outside the hospital, according to Reuters.

His discharge followed blood tests and chest imaging carried out earlier on Saturday. Doctors said the surgery was successful and had been completed without complications.

The operation took place on Tuesday after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule in his right lung. The procedure involved removing the lower lobe of the lung, and the diagnosis was confirmed as lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, Reuters reported.

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Meanwhile, the Vatican announced also on Saturday that the “Pope would lead the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday from the window of the papal apartment overlooking St Peter’s Square.”

It would be his first public engagement since the surgery.

Doctors have not disclosed the size of the tumour or whether the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes, Reuters reported. Those details are relevant to determining the prognosis.

Leo, elected in May 2025, is the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.

Tosin Oyediran is a journalist with Punch Newspapers, bringing over eight years of newsroom experience to his coverage of politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment. Known for sharp interviews and human-centered reporting, his work focuses on public accountability, civic issues, and the stories shaping everyday lives.

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