Pope Leo XIV leaves the Gemelli today and returns to the Vatican, Angelus from the window tomorrow

Pope Leo XIV leaves Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital today and returns to the Vatican. It is official: his doctors have judged him fit for discharge, four days after his surgery on Tuesday 13 October.

The doctors' statement. "Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora communicate the following regarding the Pope's post-operative course: 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," reads the statement released this morning by the Holy See Press Office.

Return and Angelus. According to the Press Office, the Pope will leave the hospital in the early afternoon and return to the Vatican. At noon today, as yesterday, the Pope is celebrating Mass in the room specially set up on the tenth floor of the Gemelli (Vatican News). Tomorrow, Sunday 18 October, he will pray the Angelus at noon (Rome time) from the window of the papal apartment. On Friday Matteo Bruni, director of the Press Office, had confirmed that "the Angelus will take place," without specifying place or format.

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.

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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