Pope Leo XIV will be discharged from the hospital today, his doctors said in a statement issued by the Holy See at 11:30 a.m. local time on Oct. 17.

The Vatican subsequently announced that he will leave Gemelli Hospital early this afternoon. It added that he will recite the Angelus at noon on Sunday, Oct. 18, from the window of the papal study on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace.

The brief medical statement was signed by Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the chief surgeon who performed the operation, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal physician.

It said: “Based on the blood tests and chest X-ray performed this morning, and after evaluating his clinical condition, the Holy Father has been deemed fit for discharge.”

The 71-year-old Augustinian pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday and underwent surgery that same day, during which his doctors removed a malignant tumor in his right lung. He was diagnosed with cancer. Doctores removed the lower lobe of that lung.

When he was admitted, the Vatican said he would be in the hospital for about a week, but Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, later said the doctors expected he would be there for five days. Today is, in fact, his fifth day in the hospital.

Ever since his operation, Leo, who is otherwise in physically good condition, has shown remarkable calm and tranquility throughout his trial. He has recovered well day by day, as the regular blood tests and chest X-rays confirmed. Indeed, today’s announcement was widely expected, especially after the Vatican released photos yesterday of him presiding at the celebration of Mass and delivering a homily. To Vatican observers, the homily seemed like a farewell to the doctors, staff and those who had assisted him in these days.

The doctors did not mention the histological examination results in today’s statement. These are expected in the coming days. They will reveal the extent of the cancer and whether the surgery removed it completely. They will also determine what follow-up treatment the doctors may prescribe for Leo. Based on the results, the doctors are also expected to advise whether he should travel to Latin America on Nov. 6, just 20 days from now. Leo is expected to follow their advice.

Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.