Pope Leo XIV Returns to Vatican After Lung Cancer Surgery

Thousands of supporters gathered outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday, cheering “Papa!” after Pope Leo XIV was released following surgery to remove a cancerous node in his lung.

The Holy See announced early Saturday that he would be leaving to return to the Vatican.

“Following the doctors’ assessment this morning, Pope Leo XIV will be discharged today from Gemelli Hospital, where he was hospitalized for surgery on his right lung,” a statement from the Holy See read.

“He will leave the hospital in the early afternoon and return to the Vatican. Tomorrow, he will lead the Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment,” the statement added.

Pope Leo reacts while sitting in a car as he leaves Gemelli Hospital following his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis, in Rome, Italy, October 17, 2026. (REUTERS/Remo Casilli)

The pope received blood tests and a chest X‑ray on Saturday, both of which confirmed he is well enough to return to the Vatican, according to Vatican News.

Before he departed, Pope Leo reportedly visited the children’s oncology ward and received letters from some of the children there.

“Pope Leo, our prayers are for you,” a girl named Eleonora, who had been receiving treatment in the oncology ward, wrote to him, according to letters released by Vatican News.

“May God, the Most Holy Virgin, and the guardian angels always protect you,” she added.

Eleonora’s mother told the Pope, according to the Vatican, that she was now healthy.

“Faith moves mountains,” Eleonora wrote to Pope Leo, adding, “God has heard our prayers.”

Pope Leo leaves Gemelli Hospital following his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis, in Rome, Italy, October 17, 2026. (REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov)

DR MARC SIEGEL: POPE LEO’S LUNG SURGERY PUTS MODERN MEDICINE ALONGSIDE FAITH

Pope Leo underwent thoracic surgery to remove a cancerous node in his lung on Tuesday. Following the successful surgery, doctors diagnosed him with lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.

“The Pope was in the operating room approximately three hours, while the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes. The doctors said it was successful and there were no complications,” a statement from the Holy See press office read.

Pope Leo XIV arrives at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, where he underwent surgery to remove a lung nodule. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

RECOVERING FROM LUNG SURGERY, POPE LEO URGES PUTIN TO AGREE TO CEASEFIRE IN RUSSIAN-HELD UKRAINE CITY

“Pope Leo awoke normally after surgery and, following a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor,” Vatican News added in a statement.

While recovering, Pope Leo called Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged him to call for a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky.

POPE LEO XIV SEEN FOR FIRST TIME SINCE LUNG CANCER SURGERY AMID MAJOR RECOVERY MILESTONE

“During the conversation, the Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population,” a statement from the Vatican read.

“Finally, the Holy Father reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peace,” the statement added.

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Pope Leo called Russian President Vladimir Putin while recovering from lung surgery to discuss Ukraine.

Russia has controlled the southern Ukrainian city since May and has not allowed any humanitarian food deliveries in the city. Oleshky also has no electricity, gas or running water, and the hospital is barely functional, according to previous Fox News Digital reporting.

Fox News Digital contacted the Holy See for further comment.

Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson and Fox News’ Courtney Walsh‑Annesi contributed to this report.

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