Pope Leo XIV leaves hospital four days after lung cancer surgery
The 71-year-old walked unaided to his car, the BBC reported. Results of tests to check whether the cancer has spread have not yet been announced.
Pope Leo XIV has left Rome's Gemelli Hospital four days after an operation to remove a cancerous growth from his lung, according to the BBC.
The 71-year-old walked to his waiting car without help and stopped to speak to well-wishers, the BBC reported.
The operation on Tuesday lasted 90 minutes and included the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung. A statement from his doctors said blood tests and a chest X-ray showed "steady improvement" after the operation.
The Vatican said the Pope will lead the traditional Angelus prayer and blessing for a crowd in St Peter's Square on Sunday. He did the same last week when, the BBC said, he surprised the world by announcing the surgery.
The early return stands out because his schedule had been cleared completely until 20 October. The BBC said his reappearance in public so soon is a surprise and will be some relief for Catholics around the world.
On Friday, photographs were released of the Pope celebrating Mass and giving communion to hospital staff. The same day, he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, their first call since June 2025. The Vatican said the call was to urge "dialogue and peace".
The BBC reported that the call came as Russia's bombardment of cities across Ukraine intensifies, with a growing number of civilian casualties and no sign that Putin is ready to halt the invasion.
The Pope also called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshkiy, a Ukrainian city occupied by Russia and under constant shelling, so that people could be evacuated and food and medicine delivered urgently. The BBC said it had recently reported on residents there being forced to eat garden weeds to survive.
Important questions about his health remain open. The results of further tests to check for any sign that the cancer has spread have not yet been announced, according to the BBC.
It is also not yet clear whether he will be fit to travel or will need further treatment. People close to the Pope said he was keen not to delay a trip to Latin America planned for early November. The trip includes a visit to Peru, where he was a missionary for many years.
This account is based on a single report, from the BBC.
