Pope Leo XIV leaves Rome hospital after surgery for lung tumour
Pope Leo XIV leaves a Rome hospital where he has been recovering from lung cancer surgery after doctors deemed him "fit for discharge", the Vatican says. Leo, 71, has been at the Gemelli hospital in Rome where doctors removed part of his right lung to extract a cancerous tumour.
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‘I Am Much Better, Thank You’: Pope Leo Leaves Hospital, Days After Lung Surgery
nytimes.com/…/17/world/europe/pope-leo-discharged…By Elisabetta Povoledo Reporting from Vatican City
Oct. 17, 2026 Updated 12:17 p.m. ET. Pope Leo XIV was discharged from a Rome hospital on Saturday, four days after surgery to remove a tumor from his right lung.
The pope left Gemelli Hospital at about 3:30 p.m., arriving at the Vatican after a 10-minute car journey, roughly three days earlier than the Vatican had originally suggested for when he would return to his residence.
“I am much better, thank you,” he said in English to a journalist who asked about his health as he was driven from the hospital grounds.
Vatican officials said he would deliver his weekly prayer and blessing on Sunday from his apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Square, although all of his private audiences are suspended until Tuesday.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Vatican, Leo’s doctors said that he had undergone routine checkups and a chest X-ray had revealed that the affected lung was healing well. They said that he was “fit for discharge.”
Dozens of onlookers cheered as he walked out of the hospital, some of them shouting, “Long live the pope.” He paused briefly to greet patients, some of whom held intravenous poles; shook hands with medical staff; and thanked the surgeon who conducted his operation.
Leo also stopped to speak with a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl who had arrived in Rome last year to receive treatment for cancer and met him in December. On Saturday, she thanked the pope for his support and gave him a stuffed doll that was dressed like a pontiff.
The pope caught the world off guard when he announced last Sunday that doctors had found a small growth in his lung and had decided to operate. Two days later, surgeons removed a lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed that the pope had lung cancer, as preoperative tests had shown. Information later released by the Vatican suggested the cancer was caught at an early stage.
Leo’s illness has shaken his papacy, casting uncertainty over his immediate travel itinerary and long-term plans for the church, which he has so far carried out at a slow pace. The Vatican website on Saturday still said that he planned to travel next month to South America, but some officials have suggested the trip depends on the speed of his recovery.
When Leo, the first pope born in the United States, was elected at 69, less than 18 months ago, he seemed to have years ahead of him to shape the Roman Catholic Church. With the cancer diagnosis, Leo suddenly faces the same questions of longevity that hung over his predecessor, Francis, who grew gradually more frail during his 12-year papacy.
Leo was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer. Survival rates for it vary greatly depending on the stage of the cancer and a patient’s overall health. Leo is known to play tennis regularly and had no other reported medical problems.
Doctors have not released the results of additional tests to determine what additional treatments, if any, are warranted.
Lung cancer is still a leading cause of cancer death, but that rate is half of what it was in the 1990s, partly because newly developed treatments are working.
St. Peter’s Square was bustling with visitors on Saturday afternoon. Several said that they had been concerned about the pope and were relieved he was out of the hospital.
“We were really worried about the pope, for his health, and were praying for him,” said Carolina Rodriguez, from New York City, who was traveling with her family. “Thank God that he came out from the hospital,” she added.
“Overall, we knew he’d be OK,” said her daughter, Amber, who works in engineering. “At least we hoped so.”
Lilia Donato, a homemaker from Messina, Sicily, said it was good for the world that Leo was home. “We aren’t living in a positive moment” and the pope is an inspiring voice, she said: “Let’s hope world leaders listen to him, because we need words of peace, togetherness, and unity. This is important.”
Elisabetta Povoledo is a Times reporter based in Rome, covering Italy, the Vatican and the culture of the region. She has been a journalist for 35 years.
Zurück in den Vatikan
@Pf. Name Name @Irapuato Natürlich freut sich der Mensch, wenn ein Kranker aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen werden kann und bei Leo XIV. ist die Freude im Volk natürlich groß ... ! Aber man kann sich vorstellen, dass so eine Erfahrung auch Leo XIV. zu Denken gibt und ihn überlegen läßt, ob er als Papst alles richtig und gut gemacht hat ? ! So hat er jetzt die Chance, alles zu überdenken und einiges anders zu machen, denn vor Gott ist auch ein Papst klein ... !
Pope Leo XIV returns to Vatican after being discharged from hospital
Pope Leo XIV returns to Vatican after being …
Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from Gemelli Hospital and has returned to the papal apartments in Vatican City State, where he will lead the Angelus on Sunday.
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome’s Agostino Gemelli hospital on Saturday afternoon following lung surgery on Tuesday.
The announcement that Pope Leo would be released from hospital was made on Saturday morning by the Holy See Press Office.
In a statement, the Pope’s doctors said that he is fit to be discharged from the Gemelli Hospital.
Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said the Pope underwent blood tests and a chest X-ray in the morning, which confirmed that his clinical condition allowed for him to leave hospital.
A separate statement from the Holy See Press Office also announced that on Sunday Pope Leo would lead the noonday Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace.
Before returning to the Vatican, the Pope celebrated Mass in the room set aside for that purpose on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital.
Leo XIV. dnes popoludní opustil rímsku nemocnicu Gemelli, štyri dni po tom, čo podstúpil operáciu odstránenia dolného laloka pravého pľúca.
Kráčal bez pomoci, pred nemocnicou pozdravil ľudí, ktorí mu prišli zaželať skoré uzdravenie, a vrátil sa do Vatikánu. Lekári oznámili uspokojivé výsledky jeho posledných lekárskych vyšetrení. Ďalšie vyšetrenia ešte prebiehajú.
Leão XIV recebeu alta do Hospital Gemelli, em Roma, esta tarde, quatro dias após ter sido submetido a uma cirurgia para remoção do lobo inferior do pulmão direito.
Caminhou sem ajuda, cumprimentou as pessoas que lhe desejavam as melhoras à saída do hospital e regressou ao Vaticano. Os médicos comunicaram resultados satisfatórios dos seus últimos exames médicos. Ainda estão pendentes mais exames.
Leo XIV opuścił dziś po południu rzymski szpital Gemelli, cztery dni po operacji usunięcia dolnego płata prawego płuca.
Poruszał się samodzielnie, przywitał się z osobami składającymi życzenia przed szpitalem, a następnie powrócił do Watykanu. Lekarze poinformowali o zadowalających wynikach ostatnich badań lekarskich. Nadal oczekuje się na wyniki dalszych badań.
Leone XIV ha lasciato questo pomeriggio l’Ospedale Gemelli di Roma, quattro giorni dopo aver subito un intervento chirurgico per la rimozione del lobo inferiore del polmone destro.
Ha camminato senza assistenza, ha salutato i sostenitori all’uscita dall’ospedale ed è tornato in Vaticano. I medici hanno riferito che gli ultimi esami medici hanno dato esiti soddisfacenti. Sono ancora in attesa di ulteriori accertamenti.
XIV. Leó ma délután elhagyta a római Gemelli Kórházat, négy nappal azután, hogy műtéten esett át, amelynek során eltávolították jobb tüdejének alsó lebenyét.
Segítség nélkül sétált, a kórház előtt üdvözölte a jókívánságokat kifejezőket, majd visszatért a Vatikánba. Az orvosok a legutóbbi orvosi vizsgálatok eredményeit kielégítőnek minősítették. További vizsgálatokra még sor kerül.
León XIV ha abandonado esta tarde el Hospital Gemelli de Roma, cuatro días después de someterse a una intervención quirúrgica para extirparle el lóbulo inferior del pulmón derecho.
Caminó sin ayuda, saludó a quienes le deseaban una pronta recuperación a la salida del hospital y regresó al Vaticano. Los médicos informaron de que los resultados de sus últimos exámenes médicos eran satisfactorios. Aún están pendientes más pruebas.
Leo XIV a quitté cet après-midi l'hôpital Gemelli de Rome, quatre jours après avoir subi une intervention chirurgicale visant à lui retirer le lobe inférieur du poumon droit.
Il a marché sans aide, a salué les personnes venues lui souhaiter un bon rétablissement à la sortie de l'hôpital, puis est retourné au Vatican. Les médecins ont fait état de résultats satisfaisants à l'issue de ses derniers examens médicaux. D'autres examens sont encore en cours.
Leo XIV. verließ heute Nachmittag das Gemelli-Krankenhaus in Rom, vier Tage nach einer Operation zur Entfernung des Unterlappens seiner rechten Lunge.
Er ging ohne Hilfe, begrüßte vor dem Krankenhaus die ihm wohlgesinnten Menschen und kehrte in den Vatikan zurück. Die Ärzte berichteten von zufriedenstellenden Ergebnissen seiner jüngsten medizinischen Untersuchungen. Weitere Untersuchungen stehen noch aus.
Leo XIV left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital this afternoon, four days after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
He walked unaided, greeted well-wishers outside the hospital, and returned to the Vatican. Doctors reported satisfactory results from his latest medical examinations. Further tests are still pending.
IMMAGINI | Papa Leone XIV ha lasciato l'ospedale
Sabato, Papa Leone XIV ha lasciato il Policlinico Gemelli di Roma – tra le acclamazioni e gli applausi dei fedeli – per fare ritorno in Vaticano. Ciò è avvenuto a cinque giorni dall'intervento chirurgico a cui si era sottoposto per la rimozione di un nodulo canceroso al polmone.