VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital this Saturday, marking a significant milestone in his recovery following major surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. The Vatican confirmed the news early Saturday morning, signaling that the 71-year-old pontiff is healthy enough to return to his private quarters.
In a clinical note released by the Holy See, doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora stated that recent blood tests and follow-up chest X-rays have shown favorable results. After a thorough evaluation of his clinical progress since Tuesday’s procedure, medical staff deemed the Pope “fit for discharge.”
The Vatican announced that Leo will depart the hospital in the early afternoon to begin his convalescence at the Apostolic Palace. In a show of strength intended to reassure the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, the Vatican confirmed that the Pope plans to resume his traditional duties immediately, including the recitation of the Angelus prayer from his apartment window this Sunday.
News of the Pope’s cancer diagnosis earlier this week caused widespread alarm, as the pontiff is known for his active and vigorous leadership style. However, throughout his stay, hospital officials have maintained that his recovery is proceeding normally. Before his scheduled discharge, Leo reportedly celebrated Mass on Saturday morning in his 10th-floor hospital suite, continuing a daily ritual he maintained throughout his recovery.
Support for the pontiff has poured in from around the world. Outside the hospital walls, 12-year-old Varvara Struck, a Ukrainian survivor of childhood cancer, shared a message of solidarity. “With his support, I’ve now overcome my illness, and I want to give him my positive energy so that he, too, can overcome his illness as quickly as possible,” she said, recalling how the Pope had blessed her during a meeting last year.
Despite the positive prognosis, the Pope’s schedule remains under close review. Vatican officials confirmed that all formal audiences have been canceled through October 20 to allow for rest. A critical question remains regarding his upcoming mission to South America, slated for November 6–17. The trip, which would see the Pope visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, is currently “up in the air.” Vatican observers suggest that while Leo, who spent twenty years as a missionary in Peru, is eager to undertake the journey, his final decision will depend heavily on medical clearance.
Even while confined to his hospital bed, the Pope has remained engaged in international affairs. On Friday, he placed a personal call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, once again leveraging his position to urge a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky. As the Vatican prepares for his return, the world watches to see how quickly the Pope can resume his full responsibilities in the coming weeks.
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