Pope Leo returns to the Vatican 4 days after lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo XIV returned to the papal apartments in Vatican City State on Saturday afternoon, leaving Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic just four days after undergoing an operation to remove a cancerous section of his right lung. The 71-year-old pontiff walked unaided out of the hospital into a waiting car as dozens of well-wishers cheered. Asked by reporters how he felt as he departed, the pope answered, I am much better, thank you.

His discharge followed a medical review on Saturday morning led by his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and chief of thoracic surgery Dr. Stefano Margaritora. Medical bulletins confirmed that blood test results, a chest X-ray, and an overall assessment of his clinical condition deemed him fit to leave. The Vatican initially projected a weeklong hospital stay after the Tuesday surgery, but medical experts noted that individual recovery paces can allow for earlier departures.

Who is affected and what changes now for the Vatican?

The swift return to the Vatican alters the immediate rhythm of the Holy See, which had canceled public audiences through October 20 and anticipated a longer convalescence. Several key groups and individuals navigate the direct consequences of the pope's discharge:

• Pope Leo XIV: Faces a restricted schedule while handling basic administrative duties and preparing for his first post-surgery public appearance.
• Hospital staff and patients at Gemelli Polyclinic: Received personal thanks from the pope, who greeted patients alongside Dr. Stefano Margaritora and distributed Communion to medical personnel during a makeshift chapel Mass on the 10th floor.
• Vatican officials and international diplomats: Managing a resurgent workload that during hospitalization included a phone call on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a ceasefire and humanitarian supplies for Oleshky, alongside meetings with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Baldassare Reina.
• The global Catholic faithful: Regaining access to papal addresses starting Sunday, exactly one week after Leo made the unusual disclosure in St. Peter's Square that doctors had found a lung nodule.

Before entering his waiting vehicle, the pope paused to speak with a young woman who appeared to be wearing a bandage on her right arm and was holding a doll in the image of Pope Leo.

What medical facts are confirmed and what remains unknown?

Tuesday's surgery involved the removal of the lower lobe of the right lung using a minimally invasive video-assisted technique during a 90-minute operation. The procedure confirmed a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. Surgeons reported the operation was completed successfully without immediate complications, and subsequent tests confirmed continued improvement.

Despite the positive trajectory, critical prognostic details remain undisclosed. Doctors have not yet revealed the precise size of the tumor, nor have they stated whether the cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes. Furthermore, medical teams are awaiting test results to determine the precise molecular and genetic makeup of the disease, which will dictate whether additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation are necessary.

Throughout his recovery inside the hospital, Leo maintained a degree of normal routine. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni reported that the pontiff celebrated Mass alone in green vestments, delivered a homily thanking staff for the work they do every day taking care of the sick in their fragility, and in a particular way what they had done for him, and carried on normal daily activities completely on his own.

What is on the papal schedule and can he fly to Latin America?

The immediate test of the pope's recovery arrives Sunday at noon, when he is scheduled to appear at the window of the Apostolic Palace to lead the traditional Angelus prayer before pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. That appearance marks his first public address since the operation.

Looking further ahead, the Vatican insists that preparations for a demanding trip to Latin America in November are proceeding. That ambitious itinerary includes Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, where the pope lived on and off for two decades and holds citizenship. On Friday, the Holy See published the names of journalists accredited to travel on the papal plane, signaling confidence in the journey. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, told reporters on Friday that Leo may need to readjust his trip schedule, at least with regard to South America, depending on his health.

Oncology surgeons note that patients are generally cleared to fly after three weeks if recovery permits. With the trip scheduled to begin approximately three and a half weeks after his surgery, Leo's upcoming weeks of recuperation at the Vatican will determine whether his physical stamina matches the intense demands of the journey.

How will the papacy adapt to an unprecedented test?

Elected only in May last year as the first US-born leader of the Roman Catholic church, Pope Leo XIV stands as a relatively young and energetic pontiff whose sudden cancer diagnosis sent immediate shockwaves through the church. The speed of his discharge points to a robust initial recovery, yet the unresolved pathology reports on genetic makeup and lymph node involvement leave the long-term trajectory of his health unwritten. Whether the rigorous demands of a global papacy can resume without interruption depends entirely on test results that doctors have yet to release.