Pope Leo XIV Discharged From Hospital Following Lung Cancer Surgery
Pontiff, who underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, stated he is feeling 'much better' but his illness has highlighted a lack of clear protocols for papal incapacity.
Pope Leo XIV was released from Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on Saturday, four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. The 71-year-old pontiff, who had the lower lobe of his right lung removed due to lung adenocarcinoma, told supporters he was feeling “much better” as he departed.
The Vatican announced that the Pope would still conduct his Sunday noon prayer from the Apostolic Palace window as scheduled, but all audiences have been canceled until October 20. His recovery is reportedly progressing normally, with routine checks yielding positive results and his chest X-ray showing good healing of the operated lung.
During his hospital stay, Pope Leo celebrated Mass independently and engaged in physiotherapy. His illness, however, has brought to light a gap in Catholic Church law regarding papal incapacitation. According to Rev. Patrick Flanagan, chair of St. John’s University’s theology department, there is no clear mechanism for temporarily transferring a pope’s authority if he becomes unable to perform his duties due to medical issues.
"Church law does not provide for any emergency situations. If a pope were to be incapacitated, get sick, get dementia or be in the hospital for a period of time, there’s no real indication of who would be in charge," Flanagan stated. He added that the Church's operational continuity relies on its well-established structure and the responsibilities of its members.
The pontiff’s decision to publicly announce his need for surgery, made from the Apostolic Palace window on October 11, was described as unprecedented. Historically, papal health issues have been kept private. Flanagan suggested that Pope Leo’s status as the first U.S.-born pope might influence this shift towards greater transparency.
"One of his American traits is that he wants to be as transparent as he can be with the people of God in front of him," Flanagan commented. "So I think he’s trying to balance transparency with privacy."
Pope Leo, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, was elected in May 2025. His surgery occurred during a Vatican summit on family matters, which ran from October 7-14. The summit addressed topics such as cohabitation of young couples and the influence of social media on perceptions of traditional families. Pope Leo released a statement during the symposium, thanking attendees for their prayers and work.
Prior to his hospitalization, Pope Leo was scheduled to present a sustainability medal at an event hosted by his alma mater, Villanova University, but his president, Rev. Peter M. Donohue, presented it in his stead. Future engagements include a potential appearance at the Villanova basketball game in Rome on November 1 and a trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6-17. Flanagan emphasized the importance of this South American trip, drawing parallels to the significant impact of the Pope's visit to Paris.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presided over a Mass on the day after the surgery, which Pope Leo was slated to celebrate. Flanagan noted the positive reception to the Pope's actions, with many recognizing the impact he has made in his relatively short time as pontiff.