Pope Leo returns to Vatican after lung cancer surgery

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkPope Leo XIV leaves the Gemelli University Hospital, four days after a surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung, in Rome on October 17, 2026 [AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff and APPublished On 17 Oct 202617 Oct 2026Pope Leo has returned to the Vatican, four days after receiving surgery for lung cancer in Rome.The pope said he was feeling “much better” when asked about his health as he was driven away from the Gemelli University Hospital against cries of “holiness” from onlookers on Saturday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Pope Leo recovering well after cancer surgery, Vatican sayslist 2 of 3Pope Leo resumes work in hospital while recovering from surgerylist 3 of 3Pope Leo to make public appearance Sunday, first since cancer surgeryend of listLeo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, which is the most common type of lung cancer.He is set to resume some duties on Sunday, when he greets the faithful with the Catholic Church’s traditional Angelus blessing.Doctors have said tests confirmed his “continued improvement”.Since having surgery, the pope has had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, held meetings with senior aides and celebrated mass in a makeshift hospital chapel.Leo thanked staff in the Rome hospital for the work they do every day “taking care of the sick in their fragility”, as well as for “what they had done for him”, a Vatican spokesperson said.Pope Leo’s next major engagement is a trip to Latin America in mid-November, giving him about three weeks to recover for an ambitious journey that includes a dozen flights and two helicopter trips.Leo is the first pope from the United States, hailing from Chicago. However, he has spent decades living and working across South America and is a naturalised Peruvian citizen.