Key Facts
—Who. Pope Leo XIV, 71, the first US-born pope, a US citizen and also a Peruvian national.
—What. Discharged after surgery that removed the lower lobe of his right lung; pathology confirmed lung adenocarcinoma.
—Where. Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, from where he returns to the Vatican.
—When. Admitted Tuesday 13 October 2026, discharged Saturday 17 October at about 15:30 local time.
—Next. Audiences cancelled through 20 October; trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru planned for 6 to 17 November.
—As of 17 October 2026, 18:45 GMT
Pope Leo XIV left Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday 17 October 2026, five days after the lung cancer operation described in our earlier report on the surgery. He is the first US-born pope and a US citizen who also holds Peruvian nationality, so his health matters directly to American readers.
The 71-year-old walked out of the hospital at about 15:30 local time, according to El Financiero and Expansión. His doctors described his recovery as favourable, Expansión reports.
Expansión reports that further tests are still needed, and the Vatican has cancelled all papal audiences through 20 October. No change has been announced to his planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November.
What We Know
Pope Leo XIV was admitted to Gemelli, the Rome university hospital, on Tuesday 13 October 2026 and underwent surgery that day. The operation lasted about 90 minutes and removed the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted technique.
Pathology confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a cancer of the gland cells in the lung. The Vatican bulletin called the operation successful and without complications.
Papal physician Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, director of thoracic surgery at Gemelli, announced the discharge after blood tests, a chest X-ray that morning and a clinical evaluation. They described the clinical course as favourable, according to Mexico’s Expansión.
Leo XIV concelebrated Mass on Wednesday 14 October, the day after surgery, in a room set up at the hospital, Infovaticana reports. On Saturday he walked out of the hospital, according to El Financiero and Expansión.
The Vatican has cancelled all papal audiences through 20 October. On Sunday 18 October the pope is scheduled to appear from the Apostolic Palace.
Video-assisted surgery uses small incisions and a camera instead of a large opening of the chest. That is general medical background and not a statement about his prognosis.
What Is Not Known
Expansión reports that further tests are needed to determine whether the cancer has spread and to set any treatment. We have not seen those results or a treatment plan published.
Margaritora said, according to Expansión, that the pope could be fully recovered in roughly ten days. He added that no clinical reasons prevent normal activity, which is a doctor’s estimate and not a Vatican timetable.
The Vatican has not announced a change to the November journey. We have also not seen a medical statement on whether he is cleared to travel.
The Vatican has not said when he will resume public duties beyond Sunday’s scheduled appearance. Sources differ on the exact format of that appearance, so we describe it only in general terms.
What It Means for US Readers and Travellers
Leo XIV is the first pope born in the United States, and he is a US citizen. He also holds Peruvian nationality, which gives this story an American and a Peruvian audience at once.
The planned apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru runs from 6 to 17 November 2026, with the Peru leg on 11 to 17 November. Travellers booking flights or hotels around those dates should watch for Vatican announcements.
The Vatican’s audience cancellations run through 20 October, so the days after that will show how quickly he returns to his duties. A clear medical update would be the strongest signal on whether the schedule holds.
Many Americans follow his health closely because he is a countryman leading the Catholic Church. Peruvian readers do the same because he is also one of their nationals.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pope Leo XIV discharged from hospital?
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Gemelli hospital in Rome on Saturday 17 October 2026 at about 15:30 local time. He had been admitted on Tuesday 13 October.
What surgery did Pope Leo XIV have?
He had a video-assisted operation of about 90 minutes that removed the lower lobe of his right lung. Pathology confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a cancer of the lung’s gland cells.
Will Pope Leo XIV still visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru?
The journey is planned for 6 to 17 November 2026, with the Peru leg on 11 to 17 November. No Vatican decision to change it is known, and no medical statement on the trip has been published.
When will Pope Leo XIV return to normal activity?
The Vatican has cancelled all audiences through 20 October. According to Expansión, surgeon Stefano Margaritora said he could be fully recovered in roughly ten days.