Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery
Leo's discharge capped days of uncertainty that rattled the Vatican and the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, less than two years into the Chicago-born pope's papacy.
Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, leading to a period of uncertainty for the Vatican and the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. The 71-year-old pope, who has been in the Gemelli hospital for four days, left the medical facility on Saturday (Oct 17) amid enthusiastic cheers from well-wishers.
Smiling and waving, Leo crossed the lobby of the hospital on foot and exited the building, where he briefly spoke with the treating doctors and hospital officials. He then paused to greet a Ukrainian girl, a cancer survivor who wished him well in his recovery. The surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, reported that the pope was in "absolutely satisfactory clinical condition" following the operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung.
While the lung operation was deemed routine, Margaritora praised the pope's dedication to a speedy recovery. Leo had been at the hospital since Tuesday and is expected to fully recover within another ten days. However, his planned papal voyage to South America, scheduled for November 6-17, remains uncertain as doctors await the results of further tests.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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