{
  "id": 15296912,
  "title": "Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/smiling-pope-returns-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery-15296912",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-17T21:50:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/10/18/smiling-pope-returns-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV, 71, exited the Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, following lung cancer surgery, greeted by delighted crowds. The terminally-ill pontiff, who had been hospitalized since Tuesday, exited the clinic on foot, waving and shaking hands with well-wishers. Pope Leo XIV, who underwent a routine lung operation, had the lung mass discovered during a routine X-ray. Surgeon Stefano Margaritora, who conducted the procedure, remarked on the pope's determination, stating, \"He really put his heart and soul into it.\" Leo plans to recite the Angelus prayer from the Apostolic Palace's window overlooking St. Peter's Square. Leo had canceled all audiences until October 20. Ukrainian teen Varvara Struck, who had met the pope last year in Rome, wished Leo a speedy recovery. Leo's upcoming trip to South America, scheduled for November 6-17, is expected to proceed as planned.",
  "summary": "Leo XIV'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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Pope Leo will leave the hospital Saturday following lung cancer surgery, Vatican says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-will-leave-the-hospital-saturday-following-lung-cancer",
        "published": "2026-10-17T13:25:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/smiling-pope-returns-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T15:20:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "Pope Leo Returns to Vatican After Successful Cancer Surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-returns-to-vatican-after-successful-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T17:18:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/smiling-pope-returns-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery-15272859",
        "published": "2026-10-17T20:23:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/smiling-pope-returns-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery-15299130",
        "published": "2026-10-17T21:50:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Toronto Sun",
        "title": "Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/smiling-pope-returns-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery-15288041",
        "published": "2026-10-17T22:04:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Qatar Tribune",
        "title": "Vatican says pope able to leave hospital following cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/vatican-says-pope-able-to-leave-hospital-following-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T22:14:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/smiling-pope-returns-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-18T01:56:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}