Pope to be released from hospital after lung cancer surgery
Leo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed last week, and the surgery confirmed the pontiff had cancer.
The Pope is being released from the hospital on Saturday, four days after lung cancer surgery, the Vatican announced.
The 71-year-old Leo XIV had the lower lobe of his right lung removed after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule.
The surgery confirmed Leo had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
Pope Leo XIV's doctors announced on Saturday morning that Pope Leo XIV is fit to be discharged from Gemelli Hospital.
In a statement from the Holy See Press Office, Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said the Pope underwent blood tests and a chest X-ray in the… pic.twitter.com/YLVOL2ucKp
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 17, 2026
Leo will also deliver the traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St Peter’s Square on Sunday, one week after he announced to the crowd that a nodule had been discovered in his lung.
His personal physician and surgeon said in a separate statement that Leo was “deemed fit for discharge from the hospital” based on blood test results and a chest X-ray performed on Saturday morning along with an assessment of his clinical condition.