Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung.
Key facts
- •Pope Leo XIV is 71 years old and was elected approximately 18 months ago.
- •The surgery involved the removal of the lower lobe of the right lung due to lung adenocarcinoma.
- •The pope's medical team included his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and thoracic surgeon Professor Stefano Margaritora.
- •The Vatican reported the pope was walking, eating normally, and in stable condition prior to his discharge.
- •The pope is expected to resume public duties, including the Angelus prayer, following a one-week recovery period.
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday, five days after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The 71-year-old pontiff returned to the Vatican following medical assessments, including blood tests and a chest X-ray, that confirmed he was fit to leave. His medical team, led by Professor Stefano Margaritora and Dr. Luigi Carbone, performed the procedure to address a localized lung adenocarcinoma.
By the numbers
Surgery and Recovery Details
The surgery, which took place on Tuesday, utilized a video-assisted technique and lasted approximately 90 minutes. While the operation was initially planned to remove a localized nodule, surgeons ultimately removed the lower lobe of the pope's right lung. Post-operative examinations confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni stated that the estimated recovery time is about one week, and the pope is expected to lead the Angelus prayer from his apartment window on Sunday.
Medical Assessment
Doctors confirmed the pope's discharge after reviewing his clinical condition on Saturday morning. Before departing the hospital, the pope celebrated Mass in a dedicated room on the facility's 10th floor. He was seen walking out of the hospital without physical support, waving to well-wishers. The Vatican has not yet specified whether any additional treatment will be required following the surgery.
Timeline
- Oct. 11The Vatican announced the pope would undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule.
- TuesdayThe pope underwent a 90-minute surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
- SaturdayThe pope was discharged from the hospital and returned to the Vatican.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Axios, NPR World, TASS (English).
