Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican after his discharge from the Gemelli, Angelus from the window tomorrow

Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican today after his discharge from Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital. At around 15:30, according to Rai News 24's live footage, he left the hospital greeting doctors, staff and the crowd; before getting into the car he greeted the people waiting for him. The car then entered the Vatican through the Perugino Gate, where a small crowd of faithful welcomed the Pope as he waved from the window (Alanews); Pope Leo XIV returned to the papal apartments (Vatican News). It is official: his doctors had judged him fit for discharge, four days after his surgery on Tuesday 13 October.

Farewells at the hospital. Warm applause greeted the Pope outside the hospital. Vatican News reported that he was greeted by Elena Beccalli, rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart; Daniele Franco and Daniele Piacentini, president and director general of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS; medical director Andrea Cambieri; and Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery, who had operated on the Pope with his team. In a message Beccalli wrote that "welcoming and caring for him at the Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS was for all of us a great responsibility and a privilege, lived with dedication and deep participation," adding: "His magisterium is a precious guide for our daily work in education, research and care, for the good of every person and of society as a whole" (our translation). At the foot of the statue of John Paul II in front of the entrance, the faithful had left messages, candles, flowers and drawings (Vatican News).

The meeting with Varvara. Before leaving, the Pope spent a few moments with Varvara, a 13-year-old Ukrainian girl he had met on 31 December in St Peter's Square, when she was awaiting surgery for a tumour. Now recovered, Varvara came from Turin to greet him and gave him a photo of their embrace at St Peter's and a soft toy, similar to the one that had accompanied her as she fled the war (Vatican News).

Mattarella's message. After the discharge, Italian President Sergio Mattarella wrote to the Pope: "On behalf of all of Italy and personally, I renew my warmest wishes for a peaceful convalescence and a swift and full recovery." "In these circumstances I once again join the many expressions of closeness and affection addressed to you by ordinary citizens and political leaders of many countries," the message reads. The head of state recalled that Catholic communities, "grateful for the care of the medical staff," find "reassurance in the Augustinian exhortation always to keep faith, including in healing from illness and in overcoming difficulties" (our translation; Vatican News; ANSA).

The Angelus tomorrow. Tomorrow, Sunday 18 October, at noon (Rome time) the Pope will pray the Angelus from the window of the papal apartment, the Holy See Press Office said. On Friday Matteo Bruni, director of the Press Office, had confirmed that "the Angelus will take place," without specifying place or format.

The doctors' statement. This morning Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora said that "in view of the blood tests and chest X-ray carried out this morning, and after assessing the clinical picture, the Holy Father has been judged fit for discharge" (statement). The Press Office then indicated his return to the Vatican in the early afternoon. Vatican News had reported that at noon, as the day before, the Pope would celebrate Mass in the room specially set up on the tenth floor of the Gemelli (Vatican News).

The days in hospital. According to the 13 October bulletin, the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique; the intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The operation "was successful and there were no complications". On 15 October the doctors reported a "good recovery of the operated lung". On Friday 16 October blood tests and a chest X-ray "confirmed the steady improvement in his general condition", and the Pope was carrying out normal daily activities "with complete autonomy" (statement). That same day he presided at Mass in the room set up on the tenth floor and, from the Gemelli, spoke by phone with Vladimir Putin, calling for a truce in Oleshky. All the stages in our article on the hospital stay and in the live blog.

What remains to be known. Audiences remain suspended until Tuesday 20 October. According to Il Messaggero (press reporting, not official), the results of the final histological examination are awaited. No official decision has been announced on the trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, from 6 to 17 November: Pietro Parolin said trips "will depend on how he comes out of hospital" and on the doctors' advice.

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