Pope Leo leaves hospital after lung surgery
The Pope is back at the Vatican and, according to the announced schedule, will recite the Angelus on Sunday.
Follow-up to: Pope Leo cleared to leave hospital on Saturday Saturday, 17 October 2026, 12:55
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
Pope Leo XIV left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday and returned to the Vatican. He has now been discharged following his lung surgery, as previously announced.
The AP news agency reports that the Pope returned to the Vatican from hospital on Saturday. Well-wishers were present when he left. His departure is the new development following the earlier announcement that his doctors considered him sufficiently recovered to go home. His hospital stay has thus ended, four days after surgery on his right lung.
Earlier on Saturday, the Vatican had announced that Leo would be discharged that afternoon. During Tuesday’s operation, part of his right lung containing a malignant tumour was removed. The decision on his departure followed medical checks and an assessment of his condition. The earlier reporting therefore concerned clearance and scheduling; his return itself has now also been reported.
According to Vatican News, the Angelus is scheduled for Sunday from the window of the papal residence. This is a specifically announced public appearance following his hospital stay. The report describes a planned resumption of that activity, but does not provide a full overview of all the duties the Pope will be able to resume in the coming days. His further schedule must therefore be monitored separately.
The German news agency epd reported on Saturday that the Pope’s regular engagements had been cancelled up to and including Tuesday. The announced Sunday prayer therefore does not mean that his entire programme of work will resume immediately. Around a week of recovery in hospital had also initially been expected. His discharge came earlier than initially anticipated, after his medical team judged that he had recovered sufficiently to leave hospital.
During his stay, Leo had already undertaken some activities. Tagesschau reported that he celebrated Mass in hospital with members of staff. He also spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked for a ceasefire in the Ukrainian frontline town of Oleshky. These activities were already known about before his departure and provide background to his return, rather than constituting a new diplomatic development on Saturday.
Another announced commitment is his trip to South America from 6 to 17 November inclusive. According to epd, no changes to the itinerary had been announced as of Saturday. The itinerary includes Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The continuation of preparations must be distinguished from a definitive medical assessment of his fitness to undertake the trip on the scheduled date: no such assessment is given in the reports consulted.
A full public picture of any further treatment is not yet available. Tagesschau reported that additional findings should provide greater clarity on this. His discharge therefore confirms that, according to his doctors, Leo can continue recovering outside hospital; it is not an announcement that all medical questions have been answered. The next announced public appearance remains Sunday’s Angelus.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
AP confirms the return on 17 October, making this a new development within the news period. Announced activities and uncertainty about further treatment have been distinguished from established events.
- confirmed Leo left Gemelli Hospital on Saturday 17 October and returned to the Vatican. — AP describes the actual departure and arrival, four days after the operation. source
- confirmed During Tuesday’s operation, part of the right lung containing a malignant tumour was removed. — Tagesschau describes the procedure as background to the discharge. source
- confirmed On Saturday, the Vatican announced his discharge following a medical assessment and is planning Sunday’s Angelus from the papal residence. — Vatican News reproduces the press office’s announcement; the Sunday appearance remains a future event. source
- confirmed Engagements had been cancelled up to and including Tuesday; around a week of recovery in hospital was initially expected. — Both details appear in Saturday’s epd report. source
- confirmed Leo celebrated Mass during his hospital stay and asked Putin by telephone for a ceasefire in Oleshky. — Tagesschau mentions both activities; they are included solely as previously known context. source
- confirmed A trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru is scheduled for 6 to 17 November inclusive; no changes had been reported as of Saturday. — epd describes the announced trip and the state of communications, rather than definitive medical clearance. source
- confirmed Further clarity is still needed on any subsequent treatment. — Tagesschau describes additional findings as determining further clarity. The article draws no conclusion about recovery. source
Editor's note
AP confirms the actual departure and return; the other sources describe the medical clearance and announced schedule. No prognoses for recovery are provided. Sources differ on the precise timing of individual examinations; that timing has therefore been omitted.Sources
- Pope Leo returns to the Vatican 4 days after lung cancer surgery — Associated Press
- Pope Leo XIV to be discharged from hospital — Vatican News
- Nach Operation an der Lunge: Papst kann Krankenhaus wieder verlassen — Tagesschau
- Papst Leo wird am Samstagnachmittag aus dem Krankenhaus entlassen — epd via evangelisch.de
The story so far
- Saturday, 17 October 2026, 12:55 Pope Leo cleared to leave hospital on Saturday
- Saturday, 17 October 2026, 16:39 Pope Leo leaves hospital after lung surgery (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „paus leo xiv”
- Het Parool — „paus leo xiv”
- Trouw — „paus leo xiv”