The 71-year-old thanked a cheering crowd in St Peter’s Square for their prayers, four days after having part of his right lung removed. Surgery confirmed he has adenocarcinoma.
Pope Leo XIV has told thousands of worshippers in St Peter’s Square that he will gradually resume his duties after an operation to remove a malignant lung tumour. He appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace for the Sunday Angelus, exactly a week after he revealed that a nodule had been found. The crowd cheered as he appeared. The surgery on Tuesday confirmed adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, and removed the lower lobe of his right lung.
The Pope’s message
Speaking in a strong voice, Pope Leo said: “Now that this delicate phase is behind me, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God’s help and your prayers.”
He said the past week had “made me feel especially close to those facing illness and infirmity”. He added that he had “truly felt your support”, and expressed “particular gratitude to the doctors, nurses and all the staff at Gemelli hospital”. He paused, waved to the crowd and went back into his apartment. Reuters estimated about 15,000 people were present.
He told a reporter in English that he was “much better” as he left Gemelli hospital for the Vatican, after a shorter stay than first expected. The Vatican said further blood tests and a chest X-ray on Saturday supported his discharge.
Reaction in the square
A delegation from Africa, in Rome for a congress, danced and ululated after the blessing. “He was always in our prayers when he was sick, and we are happy to see him today,” said Alain Kalembu of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cosimo Mastrocinque, a retired factory worker from Puglia, said: “I don’t believe it, because he was just operated on the other day. It is a miracle that he recovered already.”
Marla Marsala, from Michigan, had been due to attend a Mass with the Pope last week that was cancelled because of his hospitalisation. “I am just happy that we are praying with him today instead of for him, like we were before,” she said. “It was a tough week for all of the people who love him, which are many. He seems like a very strong soul.”
Claire Holland, from Jacksonville, Florida, said she felt “very blessed” to be there. “I’m so happy that he has recovered so quickly. I think there have been millions and millions of prayers. And he is a strong, determined man, and I am so happy that he is feeling well enough to do this,” she said.
What happens next medically
The Vatican’s medical bulletin says the operation used a video-assisted technique and lasted about 90 minutes, with about three hours in the operating theatre. It reported no complications. Surgeon Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News that “the Holy Father has put his heart and soul into his recovery”. He said he expected the Pope to recover fully “in another 10 days or so”. On 16 October, doctors said blood tests were improving and chest X-rays showed a satisfactory recovery. He was having respiratory physiotherapy and could carry out daily activities unaided.
That does not mean he has fully recovered from cancer. Testing of the tumour and related lymph nodes is under way, and the results will also include the tumour’s molecular and genetic makeup. El Pais reports that the final results are expected around 23 to 27 October. They will help doctors decide whether he needs more treatment. Options include chemotherapy, chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, or targeted oral therapy based on the tumour’s genetic characteristics. No treatment has been confirmed, and complete clearance has not been established.
Diary and the November trip
Sunday’s appearance was a limited return, not a restoration of his full schedule. His audiences were cancelled through Tuesday 20 October, and Reuters reports that regular public events stay suspended until at least Wednesday 21 October.
His next major engagement is a visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November. It would include about a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes. Dr Margaritora said “there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place”. Peru stops include Cusco, which is about 3,400 metres above sea level. The Vatican has not given an unconditional guarantee that the whole itinerary will proceed unchanged.
Other activity during his recovery
On 16 October, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo had spoken by telephone with Vladimir Putin and called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine, including protection for civilians, according to the Guardian. He also greeted a young Ukrainian cancer survivor as he left Gemelli on Saturday, Vatican News reported.
Sunday coincided with the 100th World Mission Sunday, established in 1926. The Vatican said the Pope had granted a plenary indulgence for the centenary, on the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission”. He stressed unity within the Church and the need to overcome division and distrust.
