Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on October 17, four days after lung cancer surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, Reuters reported. The 71-year-old pontiff left after his doctors assessed blood tests and a chest X-ray and concluded that his condition permitted discharge, according to Vatican News.
Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung on October 13. Reuters reported a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma and said doctors described the operation as successful, without complications. The illness is the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate, according to the Associated Press.
The discharge assessment came from Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora, Vatican News reported. Reuters said the pope could carry out normal daily activities independently. He walked to his waiting car without assistance and waved to people outside the hospital before returning to the Vatican.
Margaritora, the lead surgeon, told Vatican News that he expected full recovery from the operation in roughly another ten days, according to Reuters and AP. He said there were no clinical reasons to prevent a long journey involving air travel in about three weeks. That was the surgeon’s assessment of recovery, rather than confirmation that the cancer had been cured.
Reuters reported that doctors had not disclosed the tumour’s size or whether it had spread to nearby lymph nodes, information relevant to prognosis. The positive postoperative assessment therefore leaves important details of the cancer diagnosis undisclosed. The reported recovery timetable concerns the surgical procedure.
The Holy See Press Office said Leo would lead the Angelus from the papal apartment window on October 18, according to Vatican News. Reuters put the planned appearance at noon in Rome, or 10:00 UTC. A November 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Peru and Argentina remains planned, with the surgeon’s assessment supporting the prospect of that journey.
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