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Pope Leo XIV Discharged from Hospital After Lung Cancer Surgery
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, four days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung.
The Vatican released the first picture of the pontiff since his surgery, showing him attending Mass at the hospital.
Doctors reported a steady improvement in his overall health condition, with blood tests and a chest X-ray confirming the positive trend.
The surgical procedure, performed using a video-assisted technique, lasted approximately 90 minutes.
During his hospital stay, Pope Leo celebrated Mass and distributed Communion to those present, remaining in good spirits.
In his homily, the Pope thanked the medical and nursing staff for their care and assistance, expressing gratitude for their work.
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, confirmed that the pope's Sunday Angelus address will take place, though logistical arrangements are still being finalized.
Pope Leo continues to undergo respiratory physiotherapy and is carrying out his normal daily activities independently as he recovers.
The pontiff's discharge was announced by his attending physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and the surgeon who performed the operation, Professor Stefano Margaritora.
Before returning to the Vatican, the Pope celebrated Mass in the room set aside for that purpose on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital.
More than 2,000 people have written to Pope Leo during his recovery, including a letter from Giorgia, an 18-year-old young woman, who shared her experience of illness transforming her understanding of life.
Background
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in a hospital room following lung surgery, as reported by multiple outlets.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged the faithful to pray for Pope Leo XIV after he underwent surgery for lung cancer.
What's confirmed
- Add ANI As A Trusted Source For Reliable Information ANI | Updated: Oct 16, 2026 19:13 IST Rome [Italy], October 16 (ANI): The Vatican on Friday released the first picture of Pope Leo XIV following his surgery, as the Pontiff attended Mass at Rome 's Gemelli Hospital and doctors reported a steady improvement in his overall health condition.
- The 71-year-old Pontiff was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung following the detection of a mass.
- Photos released on Friday showed the pontiff celebrating Mass at Rome's Gemelli Hospital unaided.
What's still developing
- Previous medical updates also indicated that routine postoperative checks had yielded reassuring results and that the Pope's recovery was progressing normally.
- Intraoperative tissue analysis confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.
- Several members of Gemelli Hospital's medical and nursing staff attended the Mass, along with members of the Vatican City State Gendarmerie Corps.
- "In his homily, the Pope thanked all the staff—doctors, nurses, and orderlies—for the work they do every day caring for patients in their frailty, and especially for what they have done and continue to do for him," the Holy See Press Office said.
- According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Leo celebrated Mass at noon in a room set up on the 10th floor of the hospital, where he is recovering following surgery on Tuesday.
- "At the moment, we have received no communication from the doctors regarding discharge, other than what we had from the beginning concerning the one-week timeframe," Bruni said.
- "He celebrated with the medical and nursing staff of Gemelli, some people who were present there, who were clearly off duty at that moment," the Vatican press office said, adding that members of the police also joined.
- The statement was significant, showing Leo was well enough to conduct official diplomatic business from the Gemelli hospital, was keeping up with world events and was continuing to promote his message of peace as he recovers from surgery.
- “Doctors at Gemelli Hospital removed a cancerous tumor from Pope Leo XIV’s right lung, according to the Holy See Press Office,” the post said.
- 13) at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to undergo surgery for a “localized nodule” in his lung, the Holy See press office announced on Monday.
- Pope Leo XIV left Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Saturday afternoon and returned to the Vatican after doctors said he was well enough to be discharged following surgery that removed part of his right lung.
- The Vatican shared an update on Wednesday regarding Pope Leo XIV, noting that the Pontiff is making a steady recovery following lung surgery at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic.