Pope Leo Returns to Vatican Days After Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo Returns to Vatican

Pope Leo has left Rome's Gemelli Hospital and returned to the Vatican, four days after surgery for lung cancer, Reuters reports. The 71-year-old walked unaided to his car on Saturday, 17 October 2026, and waved to well-wishers.

He is due to lead the weekly prayers in St Peter's Square at noon on Sunday, his first public engagement since the operation.

Key facts

Pope Leo had an operation on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
He has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
Doctors say the surgery was completed successfully, without complications.
They have not disclosed the size of the tumour or whether the disease spread to nearby lymph nodes.
He is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November, and the Vatican says preparations are going forward.

What happened

Doctors said on Saturday morning that blood tests and chest imaging showed Pope Leo was well enough to go home and could carry out normal daily activities independently. He left the hospital in the afternoon, was driven back into the Vatican in a black SUV, and was pictured smiling and waving through an open window. He did not speak to anyone at the Vatican before going back inside.

Before leaving the hospital, he stopped to speak to a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl named Varvara, who has been in Italy for cancer treatment.

Pope Leo Returns to Vatican

Background and context

Pope Leo was elected in May 2025, so his papacy is about 17 months old. The diagnosis surprised many because he is relatively young for a pope and known for his energy. The Vatican released the first images of him since the operation on Friday, showing him celebrating Mass and standing unaided.

A busy agenda continues

The Vatican has signalled he intends to keep up his commitments. On Friday he held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a ceasefire so vital supplies could reach the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky. The Vatican also released the list of journalists accredited to travel with him to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, one of the most intense trips planned for a pope in decades.

Some cardinals have begun voicing concern about his health. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, said on Friday that the pope may need to adjust his pace "according to the condition of his health". It is unusual for a cardinal to say publicly that a pope might need to change his routine.

What this means for you

For Catholics in South Africa and beyond, the pope's first public appearance since surgery is his weekly prayers on Sunday, 18 October. Noon in Rome is also 12:00 in South Africa this week, so you can follow it live.

What the diagnosis means. Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer. Prognosis depends on factors such as the tumour size and whether it has spread, and the Vatican has not yet shared these details.

What happens next

The pope leads weekly prayers in St Peter's Square at noon on Sunday.
His doctors have not said what further treatment he may need.
The Vatican says preparations for the 6 to 17 November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru are continuing, though the pace may be adjusted.