VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will be discharged from the hospital on Saturday—four days after undergoing surgery to remove part of his lung—and is scheduled to deliver the traditional noon blessing on Sunday from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced.
The 71-year-old pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed after doctors detected a suspicious nodule. The surgical procedure confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent form of lung cancer.
His personal physician and surgeon stated that Pope Leo was cleared for discharge following satisfactory blood work and a chest X-ray conducted on Saturday morning, along with a thorough evaluation of his overall clinical status.
He is expected to depart the facility in the early afternoon and return to the Vatican, according to a concise statement issued by the Holy See press office.
In a display of openness, Pope Leo disclosed the previous Sunday to pilgrims assembled in St. Peter’s Square that a lung nodule had been identified and would be surgically addressed.
Since the operation on Tuesday that confirmed the cancer diagnosis, Pope Leo has exhibited encouraging signs of recovery—including a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meetings with senior officials, and celebrating Mass in a temporary hospital chapel.
Medical updates issued by his physician and surgeon also reflected a positive postoperative trajectory, enabling the pontiff to engage in routine activities independently.
On Friday, the Vatican shared the first images of Pope Leo since his surgery, capturing him standing at an altar within the hospital chapel dressed in green vestments, accompanied by confirmation from physicians regarding his ongoing progress.
Pope Leo presided over the liturgy by himself, distributing Communion to attending medical staff and Vatican gendarmes, as noted by Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni. During his homily, he expressed gratitude to the healthcare team “for the dedicated service they provide daily in caring for the unwell, especially for what they have done for him,” Bruni conveyed.
Initially projecting a seven-day hospitalization, the Vatican had suspended papal audiences through the following Tuesday. Medical experts have observed that early discharge may occur depending on individual recovery rates; Bruni emphasized that the timing of release remains subject to the judgment of the attending physicians.
Looking ahead, Pope Leo’s next major commitment involves a visit to Latin America scheduled for November 6–17, granting him approximately three weeks of recuperation prior to embarking on the demanding itinerary, which includes multiple flights and helicopter excursions.
Signaling normalcy, the Vatican released the list of accredited journalists slated to accompany the pope on his flight on Friday. Medical professionals specializing in oncology typically permit air travel for recovering patients after a three-week period, provided their condition supports it.
Further diagnostic testing is underway to analyze the specific molecular and genetic characteristics of the cancer, determine whether it has extended beyond the removed lobe, and assess whether additional therapies might be required.
