By Soledad Álvarez
Vatican City, Oct 17 (EFE).- Pope Leo XIV was discharged from hospital on Saturday after five days of treatment following surgery to remove a cancerous lung tumor and returned to the Vatican, where he is scheduled to lead the Angelus prayer on Sunday.
The 71-year-old pontiff left Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic at around 3:30 p.m. local time, walking steadily, smiling and greeting patients and dozens of faithful gathered in the hospital lobby and at its main entrance.
Before getting into the car for the Vatican, the Pope stopped briefly to speak with a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl who had recovered from cancer.
She gave him a photograph of a previous meeting in December, according to Vatican media.
The Pope then traveled by car to the Vatican, about nine kilometers away, entering through the Porta del Perugino.
“The Holy Father has been discharged”
The Holy See announced the discharge earlier on Saturday in a statement from Luigi Carbone, the Pope’s personal physician, and Stefano Margaritora, director of thoracic surgery at Gemelli.
The doctors said “the Pope underwent blood tests and a chest X-ray in the morning, which confirmed that his clinical condition allowed for him to leave hospital,” the statement noted.
Leo XIV announced on Sunday, Oct. 11, that he would undergo surgery for a lung nodule and was admitted to Gemelli on Oct. 13.
The operation, which lasted 90 minutes, was performed that afternoon to remove a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, according to the medical diagnosis released that day.
The tumor’s location and nature required the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung in a procedure described as radical and performed using video-assisted surgery.
The US-Peruvian pontiff’s postoperative recovery progressed favorably during his stay at Gemelli.
He underwent daily blood tests and chest X-rays, among other examinations, as well as respiratory physiotherapy.
His discharge came earlier than initially anticipated, with a postoperative hospital stay of about a week having been mentioned.
His progress had allowed him to resume some work from the hospital two days after the operation.
Since Thursday, he had also celebrated Mass in a room in the hospital wing where he was being treated.
Another sign of his return to official duties was a telephone conversation on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the call, Leo XIV urged a truce in Ukraine, stressed the importance of dialogue and expressed concern about the severe humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, calling for food and medical aid to reach the area.
Angelus at the Vatican
On Sunday, Leo XIV is scheduled to appear on the balcony of the Apostolic Palace to lead the Angelus prayer, just one week after announcing from the same location that he would undergo surgery for a nodule detected in one lung.
The appearance is being awaited with interest amid expectations that the Pope may provide further details about his operation and recovery.
It could also offer clues about the planned apostolic journey to Argentina, Uruguay and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17.
One of the first reactions to his discharge came from Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who sent Leo XIV a message on Saturday wishing him a peaceful convalescence and a speedy and complete recovery. EFE
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