Pope Leo Returns to Vatican After Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday and returned to the Vatican, four days after surgery removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican said doctors considered him fit for discharge after reviewing blood tests, a chest X-ray and his clinical condition. The operation, performed on Tuesday, resulted in a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma after examination of the removed tissue, according to medical updates. Leo’s discharge marks a move from hospital care to recovery at the Vatican, but further tests are still expected to inform doctors about the cancer and whether additional treatment is needed. The Vatican scheduled Leo to lead the Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 18, from a window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter’s Square. It also cancelled his audiences through October 20. The planned prayer would be his first public appearance since the surgery; the Vatican has not announced when he will resume his broader schedule. Surgeon Stefano Margaritora told Vatican media that Leo could be fully recovered in about ten days. Margaritora said he saw no clinical reason the pope’s planned November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru could not proceed....