Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican after being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, five days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung.

The 71-year-old pontiff was greeted with cheers and applause from well-wishers as he left the hospital on Saturday following his recovery from the procedure.

Pope Leo had been admitted to the medical facility on Tuesday, where surgeons removed part of his right lung containing the cancerous tumour.

In a statement published by the Vatican, his doctors, Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, confirmed that the pontiff was fit to leave the hospital after evaluating his medical condition.

“Considering the blood tests, the chest X-ray done this morning, and evaluating the clinical picture, the Holy Father has been deemed fit for discharge,” the doctors said.

Following his discharge, the Vatican announced that the Pope would recite the Angelus prayer from the window of his papal apartment.

The prayer is traditionally delivered from the Apostolic Palace overlooking St Peter’s Square. However, former popes John Paul II and Francis also recited the Angelus from their hospital rooms at Gemelli Hospital during previous periods of hospitalisation.

The Vatican press office disclosed that Pope Leo celebrated Mass on Saturday in a room on the hospital’s 10th floor, where he had been recovering. He had continued the practice in the days leading up to his discharge.

Outside the hospital, 12-year-old Ukrainian girl Varvara Struck was among those expressing support for the pontiff. The former cancer patient said she met him in Rome last year, when he blessed her and offered prayers for her successful treatment.

“With his support, I’ve now overcome my illness, and I want to give him my positive energy so that he, too, can overcome his illness as quickly as possible,” she said.

News of the Pope’s cancerous lung tumour and subsequent surgery has sparked concern within the Vatican and among the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Nevertheless, his medical team has reported that his recovery is progressing normally, while further test results are expected to guide decisions on his continued treatment.

Despite his hospitalisation, the pontiff has resumed some official duties. On Friday, he reportedly spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.

Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the Pope’s planned visit to South America from November 6 to 17, which is expected to take him to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

Vatican observers say Pope Leo is keen to undertake the trip, particularly because of his longstanding connection to Peru, where he spent two decades as a missionary. However, his participation will likely depend on medical advice and the progress of his recovery.

The Vatican has also announced the cancellation of all the Pope’s audiences until October 20 to allow him time to recuperate.

Pope Leo had disclosed his health concerns publicly last Sunday after reciting the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square. He explained that a routine medical examination had detected a lung nodule, which doctors recommended should be removed.

His return to the Vatican represents an important milestone in his recovery, although further medical assessments will determine the next phase of treatment and when he can fully resume his official engagements.