VATICAN CITY | Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday, October 17, four days after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung following a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, with doctors confirming that his recovery had progressed sufficiently for him to leave hospital.
The 71-year-old pontiff was discharged from Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital after medical examinations, including blood tests and a chest X-ray, showed that his condition allowed him to continue recovering outside the hospital, according to the Holy See Press Office and Vatican News.
The operation took place on October 13. Doctors removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung using a video-assisted surgical technique. An examination of the tissue during the procedure confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that begins in glandular cells. The surgical team reported that the operation was successful and had no complications.
During his hospital stay, Leo resumed eating normally, walked independently and participated in Mass. Vatican News reported that follow-up examinations showed his postoperative recovery was progressing normally. However, the Vatican has not publicly provided all the details needed to establish the cancer’s extent or determine whether further treatment will be required.
The Pope is expected to lead the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer from the window of his Vatican apartment on October 18, according to the Holy See Press Office. His public schedule remains adjusted during his recovery, with audiences previously cancelled through October 20.
Leo XIV, elected in May 2025, became the first pope born in the United States and succeeded Pope Francis, who died in April 2025. His return to the Vatican marks an important step in his recovery, although the timing of a full return to his regular duties will depend on medical advice.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
