Pope Leo XIV leaves hospital, returns to Vatican

Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on the afternoon of Saturday, October 17, after being discharged from the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital. The Pope had been hospitalized for five days following a lung surgery on October 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung due to an adenocarcinoma.

Before leaving, the Pope celebrated Mass in a room on the tenth floor of the hospital. He thanked Professor Stefano Margaritora, who performed the surgery, as well as the medical and nursing teams, the hospital directors, and Elena Beccalli, the rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

Medical staff expect the results of the histological examination of the removed tumor mass early next week. The Pope is scheduled to lead the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic Palace on Sunday, October 18.