Four Days After Surgery, Pope Leo XIV Returns to Vatican

Doctor and nurse walking in a hospital corridor reviewing a tablet — Photo: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock

Four days after lung cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV walked out of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and returned to the Vatican, cleared by his doctors to resume public prayer on Sunday.

Story Snapshot

Doctors said blood tests and a chest X-ray showed the Pope was fit for discharge.
The hospital stay lasted four days after surgery that doctors called successful.
The Pope left on foot, greeted well-wishers, and headed back to the Vatican.
The Vatican said he plans to lead Sunday’s Angelus prayer from a window at St. Peter’s.

Medical Team Clears the Pope to Go Home

Vatican News reported that the Pope’s personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and Gemelli’s thoracic surgery chief, Professor Stefano Margaritora, reviewed Saturday blood tests and a chest X-ray. They deemed him fit for discharge based on those results and a clinical exam. The Holy See Press Office added that he would return to the Apostolic Palace and appear for the Sunday Angelus. That plan signals confidence in his early recovery, while formal duties can still be paced.

Gemelli Hospital doctors previously said the operation itself was successful and without complications. Reuters also described the discharge occurring four days after lung cancer surgery, matching the hospital timeline. Early discharge after lung surgery can align with enhanced recovery pathways that reduce hospital stays without raising readmissions. One study reported median stays falling from four to three days after such programs were adopted. Shorter stays mark progress in care, not a guarantee of full recovery.

Visible Recovery and Immediate Schedule

Witness accounts and news photos showed Pope Leo leaving the hospital under his own power, greeting people, and entering a vehicle for the ride back to the Vatican. The Holy See said he plans to deliver the Angelus prayer from the papal apartment window on Sunday, which is a traditional weekly event drawing crowds to St. Peter’s Square. That appearance offers a clear, public sign of function. It also lets the Vatican manage his workload while keeping a familiar rhythm for the faithful.

Some reports noted mixed wording about the exact procedure and diagnosis across outlets. Terms ranged from removal of a lung nodule to partial resection of the right lower lobe. The Vatican’s Saturday update focused on objective tests and the clinical exam, not detailed pathology or staging. That approach is common in public-figure medicine. Institutions often share enough to show progress while reserving deeper medical records for privacy and later summaries if needed.

How to Read an Early Discharge

Modern recovery programs encourage walking, breathing exercises, and early discharge after minimally invasive lung surgery. Evidence shows these steps can shorten hospital stays while keeping outcomes steady. Discharge means inpatient care is no longer needed. It does not prove that every risk has passed. Some issues, like infections, can show up after day four. That is why routine follow-up remains standard, even when the first days go well.

Pope Leo XIV can undertake his scheduled apostolic journey to Latin America from November 6–17, with the surgeon who operated on his lung confirming that there are no medical reasons to prevent the visit.

Professor Stefano Margaritora, who performed the surgery on October 13,… pic.twitter.com/uYPEi7m6yq

— Shalom World News (@shalomworldnews) October 18, 2026

The Vatican’s daily bulletins during this hospital stay continued a slow shift toward more transparent papal health updates compared with earlier eras. Regular, signed notes from named doctors help the public track key facts without fueling rumor. For many readers across the political spectrum, steady facts from accountable sources matter. Clear updates can push back against spin, whether it comes from partisans, foreign media, or the online rumor mill.