Pope Leo XIV returns to Vatican 4 days after lung surgery

Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican on Saturday (17/10), four days after undergoing removal of the lower lobe of his right lung at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican said the 90-minute operation was successful, and his medical team judged the 71-year-old leader of the Catholic Church well enough to go home earlier than the roughly one-week recovery initially expected. Doctors confirmed Leo was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, found at an early stage and without respiratory symptoms. While the size of the tumor and the possibility of spread to lymph nodes have not been disclosed, surgeon Stefano Margaritora said there was no clinical reason to cancel the trip to Uruguay, Peru and Argentina from 6-17 November. Leo's first official public appearance is scheduled for Sunday during the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.