{
  "id": 15355465,
  "title": "Pope discharged from hospital days after lung cancer surgery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/pope-discharged-from-hospital-days-after-lung-cancer-surgery",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-18T05:21:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/world/pope-discharged-from-hospital-days-after-lung-cancer-surgery/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV has been released from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital just four days following a lung cancer surgery. The 71-year-old made his way to his car independently, pausing to greet onlookers. The Vatican announced that the Pope will deliver the Angelus prayer and blessing to an audience in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, mirroring his surprise announcement of the surgery last week.\n\nOn Friday, images emerged of the Pope participating in Mass and distributing communion within the hospital for staff. A statement from his medical team indicated that blood tests and a chest X-ray demonstrated \"steady improvement\" following the surgery. The operation on Tuesday lasted 90 minutes and entailed the removal of the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung.\n\nFurther tests to ascertain any metastasis of the cancer were pending. The Pope conversed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, marking their first dialogue since June 2025. The conversation aimed to promote \"dialogue and peace,\" amid Russia’s ongoing bombardment of Ukrainian cities, which has resulted in escalating civilian casualties with no indication of Putin’s readiness to cease the invasion. The Pope also implored for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshkiy, which is besieged by Russian forces, to facilitate evacuations and the timely distribution of food and medicine.\n\nReports have surfaced that the civilians in Oleshkiy are reduced to consuming garden weeds for sustenance. The Pope's return to public life sooner than expected has come as a relief to Catholics worldwide. Close associates of the Pope revealed that he was determined to avoid delaying an upcoming trip to Latin America, planned for early November, which includes a visit to Peru, his former missionary territory. It remains uncertain whether the Pope will be capable of traveling or if additional treatment is necessary.",
  "summary": "Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, just four days after an operation to remove a cancerous growth from his lung. The 71-year-old walked unaided to his waiting car, stopping to speak to well-wishers. The Vatican said the Pope will give the traditional Angelus prayer and blessing to a crowd in St […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Egypt Independent",
        "title": "Pope Leo speaks with Putin from hospital, just days after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-speaks-with-putin-from-hospital-just-days-after-lung-cancer",
        "published": "2026-10-17T07:46:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The New York Times",
        "title": "Vatican Says Pope Leo Will Leave Hospital on Saturday, Days After Lung Surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/vatican-says-pope-leo-will-leave-hospital-on-saturday-days-after-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-17T10:03:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Health",
        "title": "Pope to be discharged days after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-to-be-discharged-days-after-lung-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T12:37:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Pope Leo walks out of Rome hospital unaided four days after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-walks-out-of-rome-hospital-unaided-four-days-after-lung",
        "published": "2026-10-17T14:36:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Pope Leo walks out of Rome hospital unaided four days after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-walks-out-of-rome-hospital-unaided-four-days-after-lung-15217762",
        "published": "2026-10-17T14:36:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Pope Leo leaves hospital after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-leo-leaves-hospital-after-lung-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T15:47:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "Pope discharged from hospital days after lung cancer surgery",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-discharged-from-hospital-days-after-lung-cancer-surgery",
        "published": "2026-10-17T15:49:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Today",
        "title": "Pope returns to Vatican days after surgery; surgeon says he should be fit for Latin America tour",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/pope-returns-to-vatican-days-after-surgery-surgeon-says-he-should-be",
        "published": "2026-10-17T21:18:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}