Pope Leo XIV Reflects on Hospital Stay: “I Feel Closer to Those Who Suffer”

Published on
18/10/2026 – 17:02 GMT+2

Pope Leo XIV appeared punctually at noon on Sunday morning at the window of the Apostolic Palace to lead the Angelus prayer, met with warm applause from the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

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Pope Leo XIV was discharged on Saturday from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after a five-day stay following the surgical removal of the lower lobe of his right lung due to pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

“I want to thank all those who have prayed for me in these days. I really felt your support, thank you!” the Pontiff said. “I am particularly grateful to the doctors, nurses and all the staff of the Gemelli Polyclinic,” the Pope continued, before sharing how he experienced his time in hospital: “It made me feel in a special way close to all those who are going through illness and a condition of infirmity.”

The Pope indicated that during this delicate phase, he will gradually resume his activities. He is expected to travel to Latin America in the coming weeks.

How is Pope Leo Recovering? Surgeon Praises His Dedication

Professor Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who performed Pope Leo XIV’s lung surgery on Tuesday, October 13, spoke about the upcoming apostolic journey. In an interview with Vatican media, he explained that there are no clinical reasons preventing this trip from taking place.

According to Professor Margaritora, at the time of his discharge, the Pope was in “satisfactory” clinical condition. “The re-expansion of the lung after the operation is progressing according to the time frame normally expected. Overall, therefore, his condition is good,” the professor added.

He also noted that the discovery of the malignant tumor was incidental. “As unfortunately often happens, while carrying out routine abdominal tests, this small spot was found in the chest, at the base of the lungs. This is fairly common, because when radiological examinations of the abdomen are done, since the diaphragm is a kind of parachute, the lung bases are normally visible. But certainly, if this small spot had been a little higher, it would not have been seen,” Margaritora explained.

The professor expressed satisfaction with the surgery’s outcome and recounted how, during his post-operative recovery, the Pope dedicated himself fully to healing. “His determination to recover within a very short time is extremely effective from every point of view: it has truly been exemplary,” he added.

“Pope Leo was an ideal patient. I don’t say that to flatter him, but he really was a patient who did not cause the slightest problem for the team looking after him,” he said.

Professor Margaritora explained that convalescence will take a couple of weeks, and for this reason, he believes the Pope’s trip to Latin America, scheduled to begin on November 6, can proceed as planned. “I would say there are no clinical reasons why this journey should not take place,” the professor concluded.

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