Pope Leo to Resume Public Appearances After Lung Cancer Surgery

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VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV is set to be discharged from the hospital on Saturday, four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, according to the Vatican. The 71-year-old leader will deliver the traditional noon blessing from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square on Sunday.

Surgery and Recovery

The pope had the lower lobe of his right lung removed after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. The surgery confirmed he has adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. His personal physician and surgeon stated that he was deemed fit for discharge based on blood test results, a chest X-ray, and an assessment of his clinical condition.

Leo is scheduled to leave the hospital in the early afternoon and return to the Vatican. The Vatican announced the release in a brief statement. The pope had already been transparent about his condition, informing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square last Sunday that doctors had identified a lung nodule and that it would be removed.

Post-Surgery Activities

Since the surgery on Tuesday, Leo has shown signs of recovery, including holding a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meeting with top aides, and celebrating Mass in a makeshift hospital chapel. Medical reports indicate a good post-operative recovery, allowing him to carry out “normal daily activities completely on his own.”

The Vatican released the first images of Leo since his surgery, showing him standing at an altar in a hospital chapel in green vestments. He presided over a liturgy alone, distributing Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes, according to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. He also delivered a homily thanking the hospital staff for their care.

Recovery and Future Plans

The Vatican initially expected a weeklong hospital stay, but experts indicated patients could be discharged earlier depending on their recovery pace. The discharge date was determined by the pope’s doctors. His next major event is a trip to Latin America from November 6 to 17, which gives him three more weeks of recovery before the journey, which includes a dozen flights and two helicopter trips.

The Vatican has also published the names of journalists accredited to fly on the pope’s plane, signaling that the trip is proceeding as planned. Oncology surgeons generally clear patients to fly after three weeks, provided recovery allows. Doctors are still awaiting test results to understand the cancer’s molecular and genetic makeup, whether it has spread, and if further treatment is needed.

Source: Breitbart

Written by

claire.thomson