Politics · 2026-10-17 · Afternoon briefing

Pope discharged after cancer surgery, holds call with Putin

Pope Leo XIV has been discharged from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, four days after a 90-minute operation to remove a cancerous growth from his lung. The surgery on Tuesday involved removing the lower lobe of the 71-year-old pontiff's right lung. He walked unaided to his waiting car, stopping to speak to well-wishers, as doctors cited blood tests and a chest X-ray showing "steady improvement".

While recovering, the Pope was not entirely removed from his duties. On Friday, photographs showed him celebrating Mass and distributing communion for hospital staff. That same day, he held his first phone call with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, since June 2025. The Vatican said the conversation was intended to urge "dialogue and peace".

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

Read the sources

• Pope Leo to be discharged from hospital today following lung cancer surgery
• Pope Leo leaves hospital four days after cancer surgery
• Here’s the latest on Pope Leo after lung cancer surgery
• Pope Leo XIV leaves hospital days after lung cancer surgery
• Pope Leo Leaves Hospital, Days After Lung Surgery

More stories in this edition

1. Ukraine casualties surge 85% as Russia targets energy grid
2. French protests over living costs see clashes, over 160 arrests
3. Hurricane Trudy threatens western Mexico with severe flooding
4. LNG tanker involved in gunfire incident off Yemen's coast
5. Nigeria: Tinubu nominates six new election commissioners
6. China issues Thailand travel alert over kidnappings and job scams
7. Toyota to build next-gen Corolla in China from 2028
8. Taiwan acquires AI system to accelerate PLA tracking
9. India: Delhi bars protests at iconic Jantar Mantar site

Read the whole edition