{
  "id": 15224568,
  "title": "Pope Leo discharged from hospital after lung cancer surgery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-discharged-from-hospital-after-lung-cancer-surgery-15224568",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-17T15:42:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/pope-leo-discharged-from-hospital-after-lung-cancer-surgery/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV was discharged from hospital after undergoing successful surgery for lung cancer on Tuesday, according to Reuters. The 71-year-old pontiff had been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital just four days prior following a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. The Pope left the hospital unaided and briefly spoke to well-wishers outside, marking his first public engagement since the surgery. Doctors confirmed the operation was successful and had been performed without complications, though they have not disclosed the size of the tumor or whether it had spread to nearby lymph nodes. Leo’s discharge followed blood tests and chest imaging carried out earlier on Saturday. The Pope’s brother is also battling cancer. The Pope’s discharge comes as Africa overtakes Europe in Catholic population. Pope Leo XIV will lead the traditional Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment overlooking St Peter’s Square on Sunday.",
  "summary": "Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from a Rome hospital four days after undergoing successful surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung. Read More: https://punchng.com/pope-leo-discharged-from-hospital-after-lung-cancer-surgery/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV set for first public appearance after cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-xiv-set-for-first-public-appearance-after-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T06:33:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Pope to return to Vatican after cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-to-return-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T11:13:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Vatican says Pope Leo to be released from the hospital after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/vatican-says-pope-leo-to-be-released-from-the-hospital-after-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-17T11:18:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Pope to return to Vatican after cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-to-return-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery-15199322",
        "published": "2026-10-17T12:46:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Pope Leo leaves hospital for Vatican four days after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-leaves-hospital-for-vatican-four-days-after-lung-cancer",
        "published": "2026-10-17T14:45:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Pope Leo discharged from hospital after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-discharged-from-hospital-after-lung-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T15:26:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}