Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from hospital four days after undergoing surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung following a diagnosis of lung cancer.
The 71-year-old pontiff left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday afternoon and returned to the Vatican after doctors determined that he was fit to leave, Reuters reported.
Leo walked without assistance to his waiting vehicle and briefly acknowledged well-wishers gathered outside the hospital before departing.
His discharge came after doctors conducted blood tests and chest imaging earlier in the day. Medical officials said the operation was successful and proceeded without complications.
The Pope underwent surgery on Tuesday after doctors detected a nodule in his right lung that was suspected to be cancerous. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of the lung, with subsequent tests confirming the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, according to Reuters.
The Vatican also announced on Saturday that Leo would make his first public appearance since the operation on Sunday by leading the traditional Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment overlooking St Peter’s Square.
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However, doctors have yet to disclose the size of the tumour or confirm whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. Such information is considered important in assessing the pontiff’s prognosis.
Leo was elected pope in May 2025, becoming the first American to serve as head of the Roman Catholic Church.