ROME and LONDON — Pope Leo XIV appeared on Sunday on the window of his Vatican residence, drawing cheers from a gathered crowd earlier than main them in a prayer, marking a return to his public papal routine days after present process surgical procedure for lung most cancers.
“I want to thank all those that have prayed for me these previous few days; I’ve really felt your assist,” he mentioned. “Thanks.”
His look on Sunday for the Angelus prayer got here every week after he announced that medical doctors had discovered a nodule on his lung.
Pope Leo XIV waves from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St. Peter’s sq. on October 18, 2026.
Tiziana Fabi/AFP through Getty Photos
Leo, 71, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday. He underwent surgical procedure to have the decrease lobe of his proper lung eliminated and was identified with lung most cancers, the Vatican mentioned.
By Thursday, the pope had resumed his work actions, simply days after present process the operation, the Vatican mentioned. He was discharged from the hospital on Saturday.
Trustworthy wait in St. Peter’s Sq. earlier than Pope Leo leads the Angelus prayer from a window of the Apostolic Palace, following his discharge from hospital after surgical procedure for lung most cancers, on the Vatican, October 18, 2026.
Matteo Minnella/Reuters
Leo on Sunday mentioned he wished to precise “particular gratitude” to the medical employees at Gemelli, saying, “This expertise has made me really feel, in a particular means, the closeness to all those that are going via sickness and a medical situation.”
“Now that I’ve overcome this delicate section, as you understand, I’ll steadily resume my actions, at all times with God’s assist and your prayers,” he mentioned. ” Thanks once more. Thanks all and have a blessed Sunday!”
