Pope Leo Discharged From Hospital After Lung Cancer Operation 2026

Pope Leo has been discharged from hospital in Rome after undergoing an operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff, who became the first US-born leader of the Roman Catholic church in May last year, left Gemelli hospital on Saturday afternoon, walking unaided to cheers from well-wishers.

Doctors Declare Pope Leo Fit for Discharge

In a statement published by the Vatican, Leo's doctors, Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, said the Holy Father was deemed "fit for discharge" following a series of tests. "Considering the blood tests, the chest X-ray done this morning, and evaluating the clinical picture, the Holy Father has been deemed fit for discharge," the statement read.

The pope had been admitted to Gemelli hospital on Tuesday, where surgeons removed part of his right lung to extract the tumour. Doctors reported on Wednesday that his recovery was progressing normally.

Pope Leo's Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Leo was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common kind of lung cancer. The operation to remove part of his lung was successful, but doctors are still waiting for test results to determine whether the cancer has spread and if further treatment will be needed. The background to this story is set out in Pope Leo Hospitalized for Lung Growth Removal Surgery. A related thread runs through Pope Leo Lung Cancer Surgery Recovery Progressing as Planned. Earlier coverage in Pope Leo: First American Pontiff Shares His Vision for Universal shows how the argument developed.

Before leaving the hospital, the pontiff celebrated mass in his room on the 10th floor of the Gemelli hospital, located in the north-west of the Italian capital. The Vatican confirmed that he would recite the Angelus prayer on Sunday "from the window of the papal apartment". A closer look at the same subject appears in Pope Leo: First American Pontiff Shares His Vision. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Pope Leo: First American Pontiff Balances Faith and Heritage. The same theme surfaces in Pope Leo XIV Lung Cancer Surgery Recovery: Health Update, which takes a different angle.

Key Takeaways from Pope Leo's Hospitalization

• Pope Leo, 71, was discharged from Gemelli hospital on Saturday after lung cancer surgery.
• Doctors removed part of his right lung to extract a cancerous tumour.
• He was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
• Doctors are awaiting test results to see if the cancer has spread.
• The pope celebrated mass before leaving and will recite the Angelus on Sunday.

Comparison of Pope Leo's Hospital Stay and Recovery

The announcement of Leo's cancer diagnosis came during his Angelus last week, in what was described as a rare moment of Vatican transparency. The pope's openness about his health has been welcomed by many within the church and beyond. Context on how this played out before sits in Pope Leo Says He's the Pontiff Who Happens to Be American. A companion piece, Pope Leo Lung Cancer Surgery: Lobectomy Procedure and Recovery, approaches the same subject from another angle.

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