VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV addressed thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 18, leading his traditional Angelus prayer in his first major public appearance since undergoing lung cancer surgery.
Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the 71-year-old pontiff expressed gratitude to believers worldwide for their prayers and confirmed that he would resume his official duties on a gradual basis.
”Having overcome this delicate phase, as you know, I will now gradually resume my activities,” Pope Leo XIV told the cheering crowd, which welcomed his return with chants of “Viva il Papa!”
The pontiff was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday after undergoing a successful three-hour surgical procedure on Tuesday, October 13, during which doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung to extract a cancerous tumor.
According to medical updates from the Vatican, tests confirmed the localized tumor was adenocarcinoma. Chief thoracic surgeon Dr. Stefano Margaritora reported that the pope is in an “absolutely satisfactory clinical condition” and is recovering ahead of schedule, with doctors expecting a full recovery over the coming days.
The quick recovery keeps open the possibility of the pope’s scheduled November trip to South America, which includes planned pastoral visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
You Might Also Like
