Pope Leo Appears at Angelus Window Days After Lung Surgery, Says He Will Gradually Resume Duties

Days after surgery confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer, the 71-year-old pontiff has left the hospital and made his first public appearance, addressing the crowd in St. Peter's Square from a window of the Apostolic Palace on Sunday, Oct. 18.

He delivered the traditional noon Angelus. The crowd cheered when he appeared.

"Now that this delicate phase is behind me, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God's help and your prayers," Leo said. His voice sounded strong, four days after surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung.

He paused, waved, and went back inside his apartment.

Out of the hospital early

Leo was discharged from Rome's Gemelli hospital on Saturday, Oct. 17, after a four-day stay. Doctors had initially anticipated roughly a week.

As he left, he told a reporter in English that he was doing "much better."

The operation took place Tuesday. The surgery confirmed adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer. It is the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate.

What he said

The pope said the past week "has made me feel particularly close to all those who are living with illness or infirmity." He told the faithful he had "truly felt your support."

He singled out "the doctors, nurses and all the staff at Gemelli Hospital" for particular gratitude.

His Angelus reflection was on Jesus' teaching, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." He urged Christians to live with integrity, resist hypocrisy, and serve God without compromise.

A week earlier, at the same Sunday blessing, Leo had told the crowd that a nodule had been found on his lung and would be surgically removed.

The crowd

Pilgrims described relief. 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 of Michigan had been due to attend a Mass with the pope last week that was canceled because of his hospitalization. "I am just happy that we are praying with him today instead of for him, like we were before," she said.

Claire Holland of Jacksonville, Florida, said she felt "very blessed" to be there. A delegation from Africa, in Rome for a congress, danced and ululated after the blessing. Alain Kalembu of the Democratic Republic of Congo said: "This is an expression of our joy."

What is still open

No information about Leo's prognosis has been publicly shared. Histological testing of the tumor and related lymph nodes was underway. The results, along with details of the tumor's molecular and genetic makeup, will help doctors determine whether the pope needs additional treatment. Options include chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or targeted oral therapy based on the tumor's genetic characteristics.

His surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican News on Saturday that "the Holy Father has put his heart and soul into his recovery," and said he expected the pope to recover fully from surgery "in another 10 days or so."

The pope's own words point to a phased return rather than an immediate full schedule. "Gradually" is the only timeline he has offered.

Leo's next major engagement is a Nov. 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, including a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes. Margaritora said that "there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place."

Scott Detrow, co-author of the book American Pope, said on Bloomberg's This Weekend program that Leo's cancer was detected early and that his recovery appears to be progressing as he prepares to resume his duties and travel to South America.

The next marker is the pathology and molecular results, and whether doctors recommend treatment beyond the surgery.