Pope Leo XIV was released from Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on Saturday afternoon, just days after undergoing surgery to excise a cancerous tumor from his lung.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the head of the hospital’s thoracic surgery unit who performed the operation, shared with Vatican News that the Pope was in “entirely satisfactory clinical condition” at the time of his discharge. He also mentioned that the Pope’s blood test results were “completely normal,” and his heart function appeared to be “fine.”
Professor Stefano Margaritora, who operated on Pope Leo XIV on October 13, speaks to Vatican News about the Holy Father’s health.
He said the Pope “truly put his heart” into his treatment, and could be “fully recovered” in about ten days.
There are “no clinical reasons” why… pic.twitter.com/FSPBtACoow
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 17, 2026
The Holy See Press Office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comments regarding the Pope’s health.
A Sala de Imprensa da Santa Sé confirmou a oração do Angelus amanhã, que o Vatican News transmitirá ao vivo, com comentários em português, a partir das 12h locais (11h 🇵🇹|7h 🇧🇷). Você poderá acompanhar através da nossa página e dos nossos canais no YouTube e Facebook pic.twitter.com/HNuC1IEw0i
— Vatican News (@vaticannews_pt) October 17, 2026
Pope Leo XIV leaves Rome’s Gemelli hospital Oct. 17, four days after lung cancer surgery and heads back to the Vatican. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez) pic.twitter.com/RAzQ4IUWZA
— Catholic News Service (@CatholicNewsSvc) October 17, 2026
Pope Leo had announced on October 11 that he required surgery for a “localized nodule” in his lung.
During the operation, which lasted around 90 minutes, the surgical team confirmed the presence of adenocarcinoma— a common type of cancer found in glandular cells— after excising the nodule from the lower lobe of his left lung, according to a press release from the Holy See Press Office.
Dr. Margaritora remarked that the finding of the Pope’s malignant tumor was accidental— a situation that, unfortunately, can often occur. He explained that it was discovered during routine examinations, and if it had been located slightly higher, it might not have been detected at all.
The survival rate for those diagnosed with adenocarcinoma varies based on the stage of the disease, as mentioned by City of Hope, a biomedical research and treatment center in California. If the cancer is confined to the lung, the five-year survival rate is approximately 63%. However, if it has metastasized to other parts of the body, that rate plummets to around 7%.
Margaritora expressed his satisfaction with the Pope’s recovery following the surgery.
“The Holy Father has truly invested his heart and soul into his recovery,” he noted. “People like him often push themselves after this kind of procedure, and it seems to have really paid off. He has required very little help from us.”
Looking ahead, he indicated that Pope Leo still needs about ten more days to fully recuperate, but there are “no clinical reasons” preventing him from making his scheduled visit to Latin America from November 6 to 17.
Margaritora described the experience of operating on the Pope as deeply moving, saying, “Of course, he is a man like anyone else, but he is not an ordinary person. Pope Leo has this charisma that makes it hard to see him as just an average individual.”
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and returned to the papal apartments in Vatican City State on Saturday afternoon.
The announcement that Pope Leo would be released from hospital was made on Saturday morning.
A separate statement from the Holy See Press… pic.twitter.com/tmZOWtPmr5
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 17, 2026
The Holy See Press Office confirmed that the American-born Pope will lead the Sunday Angelus prayer from the window of the Vatican’s papal apartment, as reported by Vatican News on Saturday.
