{
  "id": 15357598,
  "title": "Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/smiling-pope-returns-to-vatican-after-cancer-surgery-15357598",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-18T05:34:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/10/1558149/smiling-pope-returns-vatican-after-cancer-surgery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday after a four-day hospital stay for lung cancer surgery, greeted by well-wishers outside Gemelli hospital. The 71-year-old pontiff, seen smiling and shaking hands, spoke briefly to treating doctors and hospital staff before departing. He then travelled in a black SUV to the Vatican, where he resumed his papal duties. Surgeon Stefano Margaritora stated that Leo was in \"absolutely satisfactory clinical condition,\" with further recovery expected over the next ten days. The Pope, who had his lower right lung removed to remove a cancerous tumor, celebrated mass at the Vatican and planned to recite the Angelus prayer the following day. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his health, Leo had resumed some work, including a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin urging a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Pope, who has cancelled all audiences until October 20, had cancelled the planned papal voyage to South America, though Margaritora believed there were no clinical reasons to delay the trip.",
  "summary": "VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV left hospital to enthusiastic cheers and applause from well-wishers and returned home to the Vatican on Saturday, four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer.",
  "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-15296912",
        "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."
}