(Image caption: A message of support for Pope Leo is seen near a statue of Pope John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy, on October 16, 2026. Photo: Reuters.)
Pope Leo XIV addressed thousands of people in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, smiling and reassuring the faithful that he would resume his duties gradually in his first major public appearance since undergoing lung cancer surgery.
The 71-year-old pontiff had part of his right lung removed during surgery on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. He was discharged on Saturday.
“I would like to thank all the people who have been praying for me in these days,” the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics told the crowd.
“Having overcome this delicate phase, as you know, I will now gradually resume my activities,” he said, appearing well and speaking normally.
Cheers of “Viva il papa!” — meaning “Long live the pope” — echoed across St Peter’s Square as he appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace for his traditional Angelus prayer and address.
Faithful Welcome Pope’s Return
The pope’s return was warmly welcomed by people gathered in the square, many of whom expressed relief at his recovery.
Christopher Butler, 68, a parish priest from Leeds in northern England, described Leo as a “great shepherd for the Catholic Church”.
“I’m concerned he needs to take time to make a full recovery, but he’s obviously a very resilient man and keen to return to work, to lead the Church and to be a world leader,” Butler said.
Soledad Espinosa, 59, from Ecuador, said she was pleased to hear that the pope might be able to visit Latin America next month with his doctors’ approval.
“We are all hoping for his recovery and that he has got through the situation well. We know that he is ok, and we’re pleased,” she said.
Norma Grasso, 76, from Argentina, added: “We are waiting for him.”
November Trip to Latin America Still Expected
The surgery had raised questions about the pope’s planned November 6–17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, where Leo spent two decades as a missionary.
However, his surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican News that he believed there were “no clinical reasons why the trip should not go ahead”.
The planned visit is being closely watched following the pope’s surgery and the uncertainty surrounding his recovery.
Surgeon Says Pope’s Condition Is ‘Absolutely Satisfactory’
The pope’s discharge from hospital on Saturday ended several days of uncertainty that had concerned the Vatican and Catholics worldwide, less than two years into the Chicago-born pontiff’s papacy.
Margaritora said Leo was in “absolutely satisfactory clinical condition” and estimated that he would need another 10 days to recover fully.
According to the surgeon, the tumour was discovered by chance during a routine abdominal X-ray that captured a “little spot” at the base of the pope’s right lung.
Although Margaritora described the lung operation as routine, he praised the pope’s commitment to his recovery, saying he had “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,” the surgeon said.
The results of tests to determine whether the cancer has spread are still pending.
Pope Has Already Resumed Some Duties
Despite his recent hospitalisation, Pope Leo has already resumed some work.
On Friday, he made a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to support a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
The pope’s gradual return to public duties will depend on his recovery, while the pending test results and planned November trip remain key developments to watch.
