Pope Leo to leave hospital on Saturday after lung cancer surgery

He will lead prayers from his flat at the Vatican to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, his first ⁠public engagement since he went into hospital.

The 71-year-old has ‌been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, ‌and doctors removed the lower lobe of his ⁠right ⁠lung in an operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday.

The ‌pope’s doctors have said his surgery was completed successfully, without complications. ‌They have ‌not yet disclosed the size of the ‌tumour or whether the disease had spread to nearby ⁠lymph nodes, key factors in determining prognosis.

The cancer ⁠diagnosis for a pope known to be relatively young and energetic and who was ‌elected only ‌in May 2025 caused shock and raised questions about the future shape of his papacy as he deals with the illness.