Pope discharged from hospital after lung cancer surgery
The 71-year-old Pope walked unaided to his car following a 90-minute lung surgery, with Vatican doctors reporting steady improvement in his recovery.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The 71-year-old Pope left the hospital walking unaided to a waiting vehicle.
- The Tuesday surgery lasted 90 minutes to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
- Vatican doctors confirmed blood tests and chest X-rays show steady improvement.
- His schedule remains completely cleared until October 20.
The 71-year-old Pope has left the hospital this week following his lung cancer surgery, walking unaided to his waiting car and pausing briefly to speak with well-wishers. His public reappearance comes as a welcome relief to Catholics worldwide, especially since his schedule had been completely cleared until October 20.
According to a statement from his medical team, blood tests and chest X-rays have demonstrated steady improvement following Tuesday's operation. The surgical procedure lasted for 90 minutes and involved removing the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung. However, the results of further laboratory tests to determine whether the cancer has spread have not yet been publicly released.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
On Friday, the Vatican released photographs showing the Pope celebrating Mass and distributing communion to hospital staff members. Furthermore, the Pope held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, marking their first direct call since June 2025. The Vatican stated that the primary focus of the call was to urge dialogue and peace.
The Pope's swift discharge and public appearance following a major lobectomy is both surprising and reassuring for observers worldwide. While lung surgery typically requires extensive post-operative monitoring, his ability to leave the hospital and prepare for upcoming religious duties points to a strong initial recovery, though the suspension of his official duties until October 20 indicates that ongoing medical caution remains necessary.
This diplomatic outreach coincided with an intensification of Russian bombardments across cities in Ukraine, resulting in a rising civilian death toll with no indication that President Putin intends to halt the invasion. The Pope also issued a strong call for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshkiy, which faces constant shelling, to facilitate civilian evacuation and the delivery of critical food and medicine supplies. BBC recently reported that local residents there have been forced to consume garden weeds simply to survive.
Regarding future travels, sources close to the Pope indicate he is very keen to avoid delaying a planned trip to Latin America in early November. The itinerary includes a visit to Peru, where he served as a missionary for many years. It remains unconfirmed whether he will be medically fit to undertake the journey or if additional medical treatment will be required.
Source: BBC Health
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