Four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, Pope Leo XIV was discharged and returned to the Vatican on Saturday from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
The 71-year-old pope made it to his car unassisted and spoke with the crowd of people waiting outside the hospital for a little while before he left.
Leo made the statement, “I am better, thank you,” before being whisked away in a black SUV.
After analysing the findings of his blood tests and chest imaging scans, his medical team gave him the all-clear to leave the hospital. Just over ten minutes after leaving the hospital, the pope made his way to the Vatican.
On Tuesday, physicians removed the bottom lobe of Leo’s right lung following the discovery of a lesion that was thought to be malignant. The operation definitively diagnosed him with adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent type of lung cancer.
According to his doctors, the treatment went smoothly and was declared a success. They have been tight-lipped about his prognosis-inspiring tumour size and whether or not the cancer has metastasised to neighbouring lymph nodes.
The relatively youthful and active pontiff, who was elected pope in May 2025, has been the subject of health concerns due to the diagnosis, which may affect his pontificate.
Leo is still scheduled to conduct the weekly prayer with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square at noon on Sunday, marking his first public engagement since the procedure, despite the setback to his health. On the dot of 10:00 a.m. GMT, the prayer will be said.