Pope to be discharged days after lung cancer surgery
The pontiff will give the traditional Angelus prayer and blessing in St Peter's Square on Sunday.
Pope Leo XIV will be released from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, just four days after a procedure to remove a cancerous growth from his lung. The Vatican announced that he will deliver the Angelus prayer and blessing to a congregation in St Peter's Square on Sunday, as he did the previous week when he revealed the surgery.
On Friday, pictures surfaced of the Pope participating in Mass and administering communion to hospital staff. A statement from his medical team indicated that blood tests and a chest X-ray revealed steady progress following the surgery. The operation took place on Tuesday and lasted 90 minutes, during which the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed. Additional tests to determine if the cancer has spread are still pending.
Pope Leo XIV also engaged in a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, marking their first dialogue since June 2025. The Vatican emphasized that the call aimed to foster dialogue and peace amidst Russia's ongoing bombardment of Ukrainian cities. The intensity of the conflict has resulted in numerous civilian casualties, with no indication that Putin plans to cease the invasion.
The Pope's public schedule has been cleared until October 20th, making his sudden appearance in public a surprise and a relief to Catholics worldwide. Those close to the Pope revealed that he was eager to avoid delaying an upcoming trip to Latin America, scheduled for early November. This trip includes a visit to Peru, a country where the Pope served as a missionary for many years. It remains uncertain whether he will be fit for travel or require further medical intervention.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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