Pope Leo XIV has been officially discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, leaving the medical facility just four days after undergoing an operation to remove a cancerous growth from his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff demonstrated visible signs of recovery as he walked unaided from the hospital entrance to his waiting vehicle, taking time to stop and speak directly with well-wishers who had gathered outside to offer their support and prayers.
The pontiff’s release marks a significant milestone in his sudden health battle, which began publicly only a week ago. According to statements released by the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer and impart his blessing to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. This upcoming appearance mirrors his presence in the square just seven days earlier, when he caught observers and Catholics worldwide off guard by using his regular Sunday address to unexpectedly announce that he would be undergoing lung surgery.
The decision to proceed with the operation came rapidly following the diagnosis of a cancerous growth. On Tuesday, a team of surgeons at Gemelli Hospital performed a 90-minute procedure to address the condition. During the course of the operation, doctors successfully removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung. In the days immediately following the surgical intervention, his medical team monitored his post-operative condition closely to evaluate his initial response to the procedure and ensure no immediate complications arose.
An official statement issued by his attending physicians confirmed that recent diagnostic assessments have shown promising indicators regarding his physical recovery. According to the medical update, routine blood tests alongside a post-operative chest X-ray demonstrated a trajectory of "steady improvement" in the days following the removal of the lung tissue. Despite these encouraging initial findings, medical assessments remain ongoing. The results of additional diagnostic tests aimed at determining whether there are any indications that the cancer may have spread beyond the removed lower lobe have not yet been publicly disclosed by the Vatican or his medical team.
Throughout his brief four-day stay at Gemelli Hospital, the Pope maintained a active routine to the extent his recovery permitted. On Friday, the Vatican released official photographs documenting the pontiff engaged in his spiritual duties from within the hospital walls. The images depicted Pope Leo XIV celebrating Holy Mass and personally distributing communion to members of the hospital staff who had been assisting in his care and recovery during his stay.
The pontiff’s prompt departure from the hospital and his immediate return to public duties come despite prior indications that his physical activities would be severely restricted for an extended period. In the wake of his surgical procedure, the Vatican had completely cleared the Pope’s official schedule of all formal audiences and engagements through October 20 to allow ample time for rest and recuperation. Consequently, his decision to resume public appearances so quickly—beginning with the scheduled Sunday Angelus address—has come as an unexpected development to church observers and has brought a palpable sense of relief to Catholics across the globe who had been anxiously following news of his health.
Even while undergoing treatment and recovering from major surgery in his hospital room, Pope Leo XIV remained active on the international diplomatic stage, directing his attention toward pressuring world leaders on ongoing global conflicts. On Friday, while still admitted at Gemelli Hospital, the Pope conducted a direct telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The call marked the first direct communication between the pontiff and the Russian leader since June 2025.
According to official details provided by the Vatican regarding the exchange, the main objective of the Pope’s call was to make an urgent appeal for "dialogue and peace." The diplomatic outreach occurred against a backdrop of escalating military violence in Eastern Europe, as Russia’s aerial and artillery bombardment of municipal areas and infrastructure across Ukraine continues to intensify. The ongoing military actions have resulted in a steadily growing toll of civilian casualties, with international observers noting no tangible indication that President Putin is preparing to halt or curtail the military invasion.
During the conversation, Pope Leo XIV placed specific emphasis on the desperate situation unfolding in targeted localized areas affected by the war. In particular, the pontiff issued a direct call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshkiy. The city, which currently remains under Russian military occupation, has been subjected to relentless and constant shelling, creating severe peril for the civilian population trapped within its borders.
The Pope’s appeal for a temporary cessation of hostilities in Oleshkiy was specifically tailored to address acute human suffering on the ground. He stressed that an immediate ceasefire is essential to establish safe corridors that would allow trapped residents to be evacuated safely from the conflict zone. Furthermore, the pontiff emphasized that a pause in fighting is urgently required to facilitate the delivery of critical relief supplies, including essential food provisions and vital medical assistance, to a population facing severe shortages.
The urgency of the pontiff’s diplomatic intervention aligns with recent harrowing accounts emerging from the occupied territory. Reports by the BBC have highlighted the extreme circumstances faced by the residents of Oleshkiy, documenting how the combination of continuous military bombardment, occupation, and cut-off supply lines has left the local population in such dire straits that civilians have been reduced to foraging and eating garden weeds simply to survive.
As Pope Leo XIV transitions from hospital care back to the Vatican, attention is turning toward his long-term recovery and his upcoming commitments on the international stage. Sources close to the pontiff have indicated that he remains deeply committed to his long-term pastoral schedule and is exceptionally keen not to delay an extensive international journey to Latin America that is currently scheduled for early November.
A central element of the planned Latin American tour is an official visit to Peru, a nation with which the pontiff shares deep personal and historical ties. Long before his election to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV spent many years working directly in Peru as a missionary, establishing strong bonds with the local communities and church structure in the region. Given this extensive background, the upcoming visit holds profound personal significance for the 71-year-old head of the Catholic Church.
Nevertheless, significant questions remain regarding whether the pontiff’s physical condition will allow him to undertake such an arduous journey so soon after major pulmonary surgery. It is not yet clear whether Pope Leo XIV will be physically fit to withstand the demands of long-distance international travel by early November, or whether his medical team will determine that he requires further follow-up treatment or additional therapy for his condition once the pending test results regarding the potential spread of the cancer are finalized. For now, the Vatican continues to monitor his recovery day by day as the Pope prepares to re-emerge before the faithful in St. Peter’s Square.