– Pope Leo left hospital in Rome on Saturday afternoon to return to the Vatican following surgery for lung cancer four days ago.
The ​71-year-old walked unaided to his waiting car, ​stopping to speak to well-wishers outside Rome’s Gemelli ⁠Hospital.His doctors had earlier said he was ​well enough to return home after they carried out ​the latest blood tests and chest imaging. The pope, who had an operation on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right ​lung, will hold his first public engagement since ​surgery on Sunday when he leads weekly prayers with pilgrims in St. ‌Peter’s ⁠Square at noon (1000 GMT).

Leo has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. The 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.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.