Pope Leo XIV leaves hospital after lung cancer surgery
A crowd of supporters greets Pope Leo XIV outside of Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy, Saturday, Oct. 17 as the pontiff returns to the Vatican after surgery to remove a cancerous node in his right lung. Credit: Reuters.
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Thousands of supporters gathered outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome Saturday yelling “Papa!” after Pope Leo XIV was released after surgery to remove a cancerous node in his lung.
The Holy See announced early Saturday he would be leaving to return to the Vatican.
“Following the doctors’ assessment this morning, Pope Leo XIV will be discharged today from Gemelli Hospital, where he was hospitalized for surgery on his right lung,” a statement from the Holy See read.
“He will leave the hospital in the early afternoon and return to the Vatican. Tomorrow, he will lead the Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment.”
Pope Leo reacts while sitting in a car as he leaves Gemelli Hospital after his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis, in Rome, Italy, Oct. 17, 2026. (Reuters/Remo Casilli)
The pope received blood tests and a chest X-ray Saturday, both of which confirmed he is well enough to return to the Vatican, according to Vatican News.
Before he departed, Pope Leo reportedly visited the children’s oncology ward. While in the hospital, the Pope received letters from some of the children in the ward.
“Pope Leo, our prayers are for you,” a girl named Eleonora, who had been receiving treatment in the oncology ward, wrote to him, according to letters released by Vatican News.
“May God, the Most Holy Virgin, and the guardian angels always protect you,” she added.
Eleanora’s mother told the Pope that she was now healthy, according to the Vatican.
“Faith moves mountains,” Eleanora wrote to Pope Leo. “God has heard our prayers.”
Pope Leo leaves Gemelli Hospital after his lung surgery and cancer diagnosis in Rome, Italy, Oct. 17, 2026. (Reuters/Stoyan Nenov)
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Pope Leo underwent thoracic surgery to remove a cancerous node in his lung Tuesday.
After the successful surgery, doctors diagnosed him with lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.
“The Pope was in the operating room approximately three hours, while the operation itself lasted about 90 minutes. The doctors said it was successful and there were no complications,” a statement from the Holy See press office read.
Pope Leo XIV arrives at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, where he underwent surgery to remove a lung nodule. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)
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“Pope Leo awoke normally after surgery and, following a brief period of observation, returned to his room on the hospital’s 10th floor,” Vatican News added in a statement.
While recovering, Pope Leo called Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged him to call for a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
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“During the conversation, the Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population,” a statement from the Vatican read.
“Finally, the Holy Father reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peace.”
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Pope Leo called Russian President Vladimir Putin while recovering from lung surgery to discuss Ukraine. (Vatican Media via AP; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Russia has controlled the southern Ukrainian city since May and has not allowed any humanitarian food deliveries into the city. Oleshky also has no electricity, gas or running water, and the hospital is barely functional, according to previous Fox News Digital reporting.
Fox News Digital contacted the Holy See for further comment.
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Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson and Fox News’ Courtney Walsh-Annesi contributed to this report.