Papstgenesung: Papst will nach überstandener OP das Angelus-Gebet sprechen

Pope Leo XIV has returned to his apartment in the Vatican after recovering from a successful cancer surgery. The head of the Catholic Church is set to once again deliver the traditional Angelus prayer to tens of thousands of believers worldwide, as reported by the Vatican's press service the day before. Leo left the Gemelli Hospital in Rome the day prior, receiving applause from the hospital staff.

In images broadcast on television, the 71-year-old appeared fit, smiling and relaxed. He also briefly spoke to believers gathered outside the hospital, who presented him with small homemade gifts. He was then driven back to his apartment in one of the Vatican's limousines. During the surgery, Pope Leo had part of his lung removed as he was found to have a tumor in the lower lobe of his right lung, where the tumor was located.

Further details were not provided by the doctors at the time, leaving it uncertain whether the Pope is now cancer-free. It remains unclear what further treatment is required after his discharge, with the specific issue of whether metastases have formed in the lung or other organs being particularly important. The Pope had previously used the Angelus prayer to announce to the believers on the Square of St. Peter that a "node in the lung" had been discovered, which was in its early stage.

At that time, it was still unclear whether it was benign tissue, a precancerous condition, or a malignant tumor, as later confirmed by the doctors after the operation. Many people were completely surprised by the news. The Pope, born in Chicago and elected in 2025 at the age of 69, was known for his robust health. Reports indicated that he maintains his fitness through tennis, swimming and regular exercises.

No health problems were known to Leo prior to the announcement of his lung operation. Vatican: Continued Improvement in Health Status The Vatican's press service announced on Saturday that the decision to discharge the Pope was based on new examination results submitted by his doctors. Initially, it was expected that Leo would be discharged on Tuesday.

Previous announcements about Leo's recovery had been very positive, with him expressing gratitude for the hospital staff's work. On Friday, he underwent a blood test and a chest X-ray, the Vatican reported, noting "a continued improvement in his health condition." The American-born Pope had thanked all the hospital staff for their work.

Leo's predecessor, Francis, had already been treated for part of his lung in the Gemelli Hospital several years ago. The Argentine had been missing a part of his lung for years. Physiotherapy is now being provided to help him breathe after the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung. Otherwise, he can reportedly "carry out his normal daily activities independently."

Further details were not available from the doctors. Whether the Pope is now cancer-free is still unknown following the 90-minute operation. The removed node was a so-called lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer according to experts.