Pope discharged from hospital days after lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo XIV underwent a 90-minute operation at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday. Doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung because it contained a cancerous growth. Four days later, he left hospital and walked unaided to his car, speaking with people waiting outside. That early discharge is a notable sign of immediate progress.

During his stay, the Pope continued some religious duties. Photographs showed him celebrating Mass and distributing communion to hospital staff. His doctors also reported that blood tests and a chest X-ray showed “steady improvement.” These details suggest that his early recovery was stable enough for him to leave hospital.

However, discharge does not mean the treatment is finished. Tests checking whether the cancer has spread have not been announced. His schedule remains cleared until 20 October, although he plans to give the Angelus prayer on Sunday. His ability to travel to Latin America in early November remains uncertain.

A lung lobectomy is an operation that removes one lobe of a lung. The lungs are divided into sections, and a surgeon can sometimes remove only the section containing a tumour. This is different from removing an entire lung. The goal is to take out the cancer while leaving more functioning tissue behind.

In the Pope’s case, doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The article identifies the growth as cancerous but does not state whether it was confined to that lobe. In general, removing one lobe may be considered when the disease can be treated locally and the remaining lung tissue can support breathing.

The choice depends on the tumour’s location, size, and spread, as well as the patient’s overall health. Further tests for the Pope have not yet been announced. Those results may clarify whether surgery alone was enough or whether additional treatment will be needed.

The right lung has three lobes: upper, middle, and lower. The Pope’s operation removed the lower lobe. By counting lobes, that means one out of three sections of the right lung was removed. It does not mean one-third of both lungs was removed, because the left lung has a different structure and the surgery affected only the right lung.

The article states that doctors removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung during a 90-minute operation. It does not give the lobe’s exact size or volume. Therefore, “one-third” is a simple lobe count, not a precise measurement of the lung tissue or total breathing capacity removed.

The remaining two right-lung lobes and the left lung continue to provide respiratory tissue. Whether they provide enough function depends on their health and on how well the Pope recovers. His doctors reported steady improvement, but the article gives no detailed lung-capacity measurements.

Blood tests and chest X-rays help doctors monitor recovery after major surgery. They can provide information about inflammation, infection, bleeding, and how the chest is healing. In the Pope’s case, his doctors said both types of checks showed “steady improvement.” That supported the decision to discharge him only four days after the operation.

The operation removed the lower lobe of his right lung, but surgery does not by itself answer whether cancer exists elsewhere. Doctors therefore carried out further tests to look for signs that the cancer had spread. The article says those results had not yet been announced.

This creates two different pictures of his condition. His immediate physical recovery appeared positive, while the cancer’s wider status remained unknown. The pending results could influence whether he needs further treatment and whether his planned public appearances or early-November Latin America trip can go ahead.

Major lung surgery can temporarily limit a person’s stamina, public duties, and ability to travel. The Pope’s schedule has been cleared completely until 20 October, showing that his recovery is being given priority. His early public reappearance is therefore surprising, even though he remains under medical follow-up.

The Vatican says he will give the traditional Angelus prayer and blessing in St Peter’s Square on Sunday. He also hopes not to delay a Latin America trip planned for early November. The journey includes Peru, where he was a missionary for many years. These plans show the importance of his public and pastoral responsibilities.

The timing is not certain. The article says it is unclear whether he will be fit to travel or will need further treatment. Pending cancer tests could affect both decisions. Even with encouraging early recovery, his doctors’ findings and physical strength will determine how quickly he resumes a full schedule.

The Pope can act as an international voice for dialogue, peace, and humanitarian protection. His role is not described as formal mediation in the article, but his conversations can draw attention to wars and civilian suffering. On Friday, he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, making their first call since June 2025.

The Vatican said the call was intended to urge “dialogue and peace.” The conversation came as Russia’s bombardment of Ukrainian cities intensified, with rising civilian casualties and no sign that Putin was ready to halt the invasion. The Pope also called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshkiy, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city under constant shelling.

His appeal focused on practical relief. A pause could allow civilians to leave and enable urgent deliveries of food and medicine. The article reports that residents there were forced to eat garden weeds to survive. These actions show how the Pope combines public moral appeals with direct contact with political leaders.

Breathing can continue after a lobectomy because the lungs contain multiple sections that work together. When one lobe is removed, the remaining lobes and the other lung still move air and exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The body does not need every lobe to remain alive, although breathing capacity may be reduced.

Whether function is sufficient depends on several factors. Doctors consider how healthy the remaining lung tissue is, how much lung function the person had before surgery, and whether there are other illnesses affecting breathing. They also monitor recovery after the operation. The article reports that the Pope’s blood tests and chest X-ray showed steady improvement.

The article does not provide his lung-capacity measurements or detailed respiratory results. It therefore cannot establish exactly how well he will breathe during exertion or travel. His recovery, pending cancer tests, and any further treatment will help determine how quickly he can resume his full schedule.