Smiling pope returns to Vatican after cancer surgery

Before his discharge, Leo celebrated mass at noon, according to the Vatican, as he has in recent days, in a room on the 10th floor where he has been recovering.

‘Heart and soul’

News that the otherwise active pope had a cancerous tumour removed from his lung was met with trepidation among the world’s Catholics and other supporters.

But his doctors have said Leo’s recovery has been progressing well as they await the results of tests that will determine the next course of action to take.

Surgeon Margaritora told Vatican News that Leo’s tumour had been discovered by chance, during a routine abdominal X-ray that captured the “little spot” at the base of his right lung.

While calling the lung operation “routine”, he saluted the pope’s commitment to his recovery, saying he “really put his heart and soul into it, like the most motivated patients”.

“His determination to achieve a very quick and very effective recovery from every point of view was really commendable,” Margaritora said.

Leo has resumed some work, making a call on Friday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.