Pope Leo XIV discharged after lung cancer surgery, returns to Vatican

Pope Leo XIV was discharged from Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday following surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung, according to ABC News and NBC News. Medical evaluations including blood tests and chest X-rays deemed him fit to leave the hospital, as reported by the Vatican and his medical team.

The 71-year-old pontiff walked out of the hospital unaided, greeted well-wishers, and was driven back to the Vatican, where he is expected to recite the Angelus prayer from the window of the papal apartment on Sunday, sources from ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News stated.

Pope Leo resumed some work activities on Thursday while still hospitalized, and doctors noted steady improvement in his recovery, according to CBS News. No official information has been released regarding any further treatment or the cancer's prognosis.

During his hospital stay, the pope interacted with visitors and hospital staff, including a Ukrainian family, and held meetings with Vatican officials. The Vatican also reported a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, as noted by CBS News.

The pope had been initially expected to remain hospitalized until October 20, but his earlier discharge reflects positive progress in his condition. Plans for his upcoming travel to South America remain uncertain, as reported by CBS News.

The medical team responsible for the pope's care includes Dr. Luigi Carbone and Prof. Stefano Margaritora, who performed the surgery and assessed his readiness for discharge, according to ABC News and NBC News.