Madar (International) - Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday, October 17, 2026, four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer at Rome's Gemelli University Hospital, telling reporters he felt "much better" as he was driven away, according to Al Jazeera, citing the Associated Press.
The pope had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, and doctors said tests showed his "continued improvement".
He is set to resume some duties on Sunday, when he greets the faithful with the traditional Angelus blessing. While in hospital, he held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, met senior aides and celebrated mass in a makeshift chapel. He thanked hospital staff for their daily care of the sick and for what they had done for him, a Vatican spokesperson said.
His next major engagement is a trip to Latin America in mid-November that includes about a dozen flights and two helicopter trips. His surgeon said he should be fit to make the journey, AP reported.
Born in Chicago, Leo is the first pope from the United States. He spent decades working in South America and is a naturalised Peruvian citizen. He began an official visit to Algeria on April 13, 2026.
