This is a developing story. Read our earlier coverage: Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Cancer, Vatican Confirms.
Pope Leo XIV has left hospital. The pontiff was discharged from Rome's Agostino Gemelli hospital on Saturday afternoon, October 17 — four days after undergoing surgery to remove a lung nodule that was confirmed to be cancerous.
The Vatican announced the discharge on Saturday morning, saying the 71-year-old pope's doctors had judged him fit to return to the Vatican. He will recite the Angelus at noon on Sunday from the Apostolic Palace, the Holy See Press Office said.
Pope Leo discharged: what the Vatican said
"Before leaving, the Holy Father thanked Professor Stefano Margaritora, who performed the surgery, together with the medical and nursing team," the Holy See Press Office said. "He also greeted the healthcare staff, Professor Elena Beccalli, Rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, and the leadership of the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital."
Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said the pope underwent blood tests and a chest X-ray in the morning, which confirmed that his clinical condition allowed for him to leave hospital.
Before returning to the Vatican, the pope celebrated Mass in the room set aside for that purpose on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital.
A swift return after the first health scare of his papacy
Leo walked out of hospital unaided, greeting well-wishers, including a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl who gave him a stuffed toy as a gift, CNN reported.
The first American pope was admitted to the Gemelli hospital on Tuesday, October 13. Surgeons removed the lung nodule, and tissue examined during the operation confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
The discharge caps a remarkably fast recovery from the first health scare of his papacy. Leo was elected last May at the relatively young age of 69 and is known to be in good physical shape — as a cardinal living in Rome he had a personal trainer and enjoys sports such as tennis and swimming, according to CNN.
Work continued from the hospital bed
The pope did not stop working during his four days in hospital. He received cardinals and held a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he raised the plight of civilians in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky, CNN reported.
Days before his surgery, he had also confirmed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as the Dean of the College of Cardinals — an important piece of Vatican housekeeping, since the dean presides over any future conclave.
What about the Latin America trip?
The biggest open question is the pope's packed trip to Latin America scheduled for November 6-17, including Uruguay, Argentina and a "homecoming" to Peru, where he served as a missionary and bishop for years.
The Vatican is remaining cautious. "We need to see how the Pope feels once he is discharged — what his state of health is — and based on that, he will decide whether to keep or cancel his trips," Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See Secretary of State, told reporters Friday.
His doctors were more upbeat on Saturday, telling reporters there were "no clinical reasons" why the visit should not take place. They said they expected it would take a couple of weeks for Leo to make a "truly complete physical recovery."
Why it matters
A pope's health is never a private matter — it moves markets of meaning for 1.4 billion Catholics and shapes the Vatican's diplomatic calendar. The swift discharge is reassuring, but the unanswered questions about further treatment and the November trip will keep Rome watching closely. The Vatican has not disclosed the size of the tumour, whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes, or whether the pope will need chemotherapy.
What happens next
Sunday's Angelus will be the first public test of the pope's recovery. The Vatican will then assess, day by day, whether the November Latin America tour can go ahead as planned. Further medical updates — particularly on pathology results and any additional treatment — are expected in the coming weeks.
Key Takeaways
- Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Gemelli hospital on Saturday, October 17, four days after lung surgery.
- Surgeons removed the lung nodule on October 13; tissue tests confirmed lung adenocarcinoma.
- He walked out unaided and will lead Sunday's Angelus from the Apostolic Palace.
- He worked from hospital, receiving cardinals and calling Vladimir Putin about civilians in Oleshky.
- Doctors see "no clinical reasons" to cancel the November 6-17 Latin America trip; a final decision depends on his recovery.
- The Vatican has not disclosed the tumour's size, spread, or whether further treatment is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pope Leo discharged from hospital?
Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2026 — four days after his October 13 surgery at Rome's Agostino Gemelli hospital. The Vatican announced the discharge that morning after blood tests and a chest X-ray.
What surgery did Pope Leo have?
Surgeons removed a nodule from his lung on October 13. Tissue examined during the operation confirmed pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
Will the pope lead the Sunday Angelus?
Yes. The Holy See Press Office said he will recite the Angelus at noon on Sunday from the Apostolic Palace, overlooking St. Peter's Square.
Will Pope Leo still travel to Latin America in November?
That is undecided. The November 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru is still on the schedule, and his doctors see "no clinical reasons" to cancel it — but Cardinal Parolin says the pope will decide based on how he feels after discharge.
Does the pope need further cancer treatment?
The Vatican has not said. Key details — the tumour's size, whether it spread to lymph nodes, and whether chemotherapy is needed — have not been publicly disclosed.
What did the pope do while in hospital?
He kept working: he received cardinals, celebrated Mass on the hospital's 10th floor, and spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the plight of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
Earlier coverage: Pope Leo XIV Diagnosed With Lung Cancer, Vatican Confirms · Pope Leo XIV's Lung Surgery Successful, Vatican Confirms · Pope Leo Surgery: Pontiff Admitted for Lung Nodule Operation
Sources
- CNN — "Pope Leo discharged from hospital after lung cancer surgery" (October 17, 2026): cnn.com
- Vatican News — "Pope Leo XIV returns to Vatican after being discharged from hospital" (October 17, 2026): vaticannews.va
- USA Today — "Pope Leo leaves hospital four days after cancer surgery" (October 17, 2026): usatoday.com
By GlobalDeskNews Staff | 17 October 2026