Pope Leo left Gemelli University Hospital in Rome on Saturday afternoon to return to the Vatican after undergoing surgery for lung cancer four days earlier. The 71-year-old pontiff underwent the procedure on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung following a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.
Dr Stefano Margaritora stated the tumour was discovered during a routine abdominal examination and confirmed the surgery was completed successfully without complications. Medical staff have not disclosed the size of the tumour or whether it spread to lymph nodes, but they deemed the Holy Father fit for discharge based on blood tests and a chest X-ray.
Pope Leo was able to perform normal daily activities independently and walked unaided to his waiting car upon leaving the hospital. The Vatican released the first images of the pope since his surgery on Friday, showing him stopping to speak to a 13-year-old girl named Varvara from Ukraine.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin stated Leo may need to adjust the pace of his schedule, though the pontiff plans to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. Dr Stefano Margaritora said the pope could be fully recovered in another 10 days and noted there are no clinical reasons why a long trip involving air travel in about three weeks should not take place.
Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025 and spent two decades as a missionary in Peru, will lead weekly prayers with pilgrims from his apartment at 1000 GMT on Sunday. The pontiff cancelled all his audiences until October 20 but will recite the Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment tomorrow.
On Friday, Pope Leo held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged a ceasefire to help get vital supplies into Oleshky.
"As for a long trip involving air travel in about three weeks, I would say there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place", said Dr Stefano Margaritora.
Dr Stefano Margaritora
