Pope Leo XIV has resumed public duties after undergoing lung cancer surgery, thanking thousands of Catholic faithful for their prayers and support during his recovery.
The 71-year-old pontiff addressed about 15,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, in his first major public appearance since the operation.
“Now that this delicate phase is behind me, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God’s help and your prayers,” Leo said.
The pope spoke from a window overlooking the square, a week after announcing during his traditional Angelus blessing that doctors had discovered a nodule in his lung that required surgical removal.
The operation confirmed that he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. Test results to determine whether the cancer has spread are still pending.
Reflecting on his experience, Leo said it had strengthened his connection with people facing health challenges.
The experience, he said, “has 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” in Rome, where he received treatment.
After addressing the crowd, the pope paused to wave before returning to his apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
A delegation from Africa, which was in Rome for a Catholic meeting, celebrated the pontiff’s appearance with dancing and ululation following his blessing.
“He was always in our prayers when he was sick, and we are happy to see him today. This is an expression of our joy,” Alain Kalembu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said.
Meanwhile, questions remain over whether the pope will proceed with a planned November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told journalists on Friday that Leo might need to adjust his schedule “according to the condition of his health”.
However, the pope’s surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican News that he believed there were “no clinical reasons why the trip should not go ahead”.
