Pope Leo XIV has left hospital and returned to the Vatican, just four days after having surgery for lung cancer.
The 71-year-old walked to his car without any help on Saturday 17 October 2026, smiling and waving to well-wishers outside Gemelli University Hospital in Rome. On his way out, he stopped to chat with a 13-year-old girl from Ukraine who is also being treated for cancer in Italy.
On Tuesday, doctors removed the bottom section of the Pope’s right lung, where a tumour had been found. A tumour is a lump of cells growing where it shouldn’t, and the Pope’s was found by chance during a routine check-up. His doctors said the operation went well, with no complications.
Pope Leo is the leader of the Catholic Church, and has only been Pope since May 2025, so news of his illness came as a shock to many people.
His lead surgeon, Dr Stefano Margaritora, said the Pope could be fully recovered in about another 10 days. He also said there was no medical reason to call off the Pope’s busy trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, planned for 6 to 17 November.
The Pope’s first public event since his surgery was set for Sunday, leading weekly prayers with visitors from his apartment overlooking St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. His doctors say he is well enough to manage his normal daily activities on his own while he recovers.
Te Reo Māori
Headline: Kua Wehe a Pope Leo i te Hōhipera i muri i te Hāparapara Mate Pukupuku
Kua wehe a Pope Leo XIV i te hōhipera, ā, kua hoki ia ki te Vatican, e whā noa iho ngā rā i muri i tōna hāparapara mō te mate pukupuku pūkahukahu.
I te Rāhoroi 17 Oketopa 2026, i hīkoi a Pope Leo, 71 tau te pakeke, ki tōna motukā, kāore he āwhina, me te ataata, me te piu i tōna ringa ki ngā tāngata i tae mai ki waho o Gemelli University Hospital i Rōma. I a ia e haere ana, i tū ia ki te kōrero ki tētahi kōtiro 13 tau te pakeke nō Ukraine, e whiwhi rongoā ana hoki mō te mate pukupuku i Itāria.
I te Rātū, i tangohia e ngā tākuta te wāhanga o raro o te pūkahukahu matau o te Pope, i te wāhi i kitea ai tētahi puku. Ko te puku he pōkai pūtau e tipu ana ki te wāhi hē, ā, i kitea ohoreretia te puku o te Pope i tētahi tirotiro hauora noa. I kī ōna tākuta i pai te haere o te hāparapara, kāore he raruraru.
Ko Pope Leo te kaiārahi o Te Hāhi Katorika, ā, nō Mei 2025 anō ia i tū ai hei Pope, nō reira i ohorere te tokomaha i te rongonga i tōna māuiui.
I kī tōna tākuta hāparapara matua, a Dr Stefano Margaritora, tērā pea ka ora katoa te Pope i roto i te 10 rā anō. I kī anō ia, kāore he take hauora e whakakorea ai te haerenga nui o te Pope ki Uruguay, Argentina me Peru, mai i te 6 ki te 17 o Noema.
Ko te Rātapu te rā i whakaritea mō tana mahi tūmatanui tuatahi mai i tōna hāparapara, arā, ka ārahi ia i ngā karakia ā-wiki me ngā manuhiri, mai i tōna whare e titiro iho ana ki St Peter’s Square i te Vatican. E ai ki ōna tākuta, kua ora pai ia ki te mahi i āna mahi o ia rā, ko ia anō, i a ia e whakaora ana.
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