Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to be discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital this afternoon, just four days after surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his lung. The Vatican has stated that the Pope will deliver the traditional Angelus prayer and blessing in St Peter's Square on Sunday.
The operation, which took place on Tuesday, lasted 90 minutes and involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung. Doctors have reported that blood tests and a chest X-ray show "steady improvement" following the procedure. Results from further tests to check if the cancer has spread have not yet been announced.
On Friday, photographs were released showing the Pope celebrating Mass and distributing communion to hospital staff. His schedule had been cleared until 20 October, making his swift public reappearance a surprise to many.
The Pope also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, their first call since June 2025, to urge "dialogue and peace." He called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshkiy to allow evacuations and the delivery of aid.