Pope Leo cleared to leave hospital four days after lung cancer surgery
Pope Leo XIV is set to return to the Vatican earlier than anticipated following an operation to treat lung cancer, with plans to give his Sunday Angelus prayer Oct. 18.
A statue of St. John Paul II Oct. 14, 2026, can be seen in front of Rome's Gemelli hospital where Pope Leo XIV recovers after surgery in which doctors removed his lower right lung to treat a cancerous tumor. A banner on the ground says, "Viva il papa!" or "Long live the pope" in Italian. (CNS photo/Cristian Gennari)
ROME (CNS) -- Just four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, Pope Leo XIV is expected to leave Rome's Gemelli hospital Oct. 17, days ahead of initial projections, and return to the Vatican in time for his Sunday Angelus prayer.
Doctors cleared the pope for discharge after reviewing blood tests, a chest X-ray and his overall clinical condition, according to a Vatican communique released Oct. 17.
A second announcement confirmed that Pope Leo would leave the hospital in the early afternoon and return to the Vatican. He is scheduled to recite the Angelus prayer Oct. 18 from the window of the papal apartment.
Pope Leo has been hospitalized since Oct. 13, when he underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after medical tests detected a suspicious growth that was later confirmed to be cancerous. The removed tissue was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in glandular cells.
Throughout his hospitalization, the Vatican issued daily updates on his condition, reporting that his recovery was progressing as expected and that postoperative test results were "within the expected range."
The day after surgery, the pope began respiratory therapy, walked around his hospital room and resumed eating. As his recovery progressed, he gradually returned to daily activities and celebrated Mass with medical personnel Oct. 16.
The Vatican press office had told reporters throughout the week that the pope was expected to remain hospitalized for about seven days, provided his recovery progressed as anticipated. However, doctors cleared him for discharge several days ahead of that initial estimate.
Ahead of the surgery, the prefecture of the papal household canceled the pope's public audiences and events through Oct. 20. The Vatican has not announced any further changes to his schedule.
