Pope Leo XIV is set to leave Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Saturday afternoon, only four days after undergoing an operation to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung. The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff intends to lead the traditional Angelus prayer and offer a blessing to the public in St Peter's Square on Sunday, mirroring his appearance last week when he first disclosed his impending surgery.
Medical staff released photographs on Friday showing the Pope celebrating Mass and distributing communion to hospital workers. A subsequent medical bulletin indicated that recent blood work and a chest X-ray revealed consistent health improvements following the procedure.
The 90-minute operation, performed on Tuesday, involved the extraction of the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung. Additional test results to determine whether the cancer has metastasized have not yet been made public.
During his hospital stay on Friday, the Pope held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking their first direct contact since June 2025. The Holy See stated that the discussion focused on advocating for peace and diplomatic dialogue.
The conversation coincided with an escalation of Russian airstrikes targeting Ukrainian urban centers, resulting in mounting civilian casualties and no immediate indication of a halt to the invasion. Furthermore, the Pope appealed for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-occupied and heavily shelled city of Oleshkiy to facilitate civilian evacuations and deliver critical supplies of food and medicine. Recent reports have highlighted severe conditions in the area, where residents have resorted to consuming garden weeds to endure the siege.
Because the Pope's public calendar has been officially cleared through October 20, his rapid return to public view comes as an unexpected development that will likely reassure Catholics worldwide. Associates of the pontiff note that he remains eager to proceed with a scheduled journey to Latin America in early November, which features a stop in Peru where he previously served as a missionary for an extended period. It remains undetermined whether he will be sufficiently recovered to undertake the trip or if additional medical interventions will be necessary.