Pope Leo XIV appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace on Sunday to lead the Angelus, drawing warm applause from the crowd in St Peter’s Square. It was his first public appearance since leaving Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Saturday, after a five-day stay that followed surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
The operation, performed on 13 October, addressed a pulmonary adenocarcinoma—a malignant tumour that was discovered incidentally. In his address, the Pontiff expressed gratitude for the prayers and support he received, saying, “I want to thank all those who have prayed for me in these days. I really felt your support, thank you!” He also singled out the medical team: “I am particularly grateful to the doctors, nurses and all the staff of the Gemelli Polyclinic.”
Reflecting on his time in hospital, Leo XIV said the experience had a profound personal impact. “It made me feel in a special way close to all those who are going through illness and a condition of infirmity,” he told the faithful. He added that he would resume his activities gradually during what he called “this delicate phase.”
Recovery and the road ahead
Professor Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who led the operation, offered an upbeat assessment of the Pope’s condition. In an interview with Vatican media, he said that at discharge Leo XIV was in “satisfactory” clinical condition. “The re-expansion of the lung after the operation is progressing according to the time frame normally expected. Overall, therefore, his condition is good,” Margaritora explained.
The professor also shed light on how the tumour was found. “As unfortunately often happens, while carrying out routine abdominal tests, this small spot was found in the chest, at the base of the lungs. This is fairly common, because when radiological examinations of the abdomen are done, since the diaphragm is a kind of parachute, the lung bases are normally visible. But certainly, if this small spot had been a little higher, it would not have been seen,” he said.
Margaritora praised the Pope’s determination to recover quickly. “His determination to recover within a very short time is extremely effective from every point of view: it has truly been exemplary,” he said. He described Leo XIV as “an ideal patient,” adding, “I don’t say that to flatter him, but he really was a patient who did not cause the slightest problem for the team looking after him.”
The Vatican has not yet confirmed a date for the planned apostolic journey to Latin America, but Margaritora said there are no clinical reasons to prevent it. The Pope’s gradual return to duties will be closely watched, especially as he balances recovery with the demands of leading the Catholic Church.
For many in St Peter’s Square, the sight of the Pope at the window was a reassuring sign. The crowd’s applause reflected a sense of relief that the 88-year-old pontiff, who has faced health challenges in the past, is on the mend. His message of solidarity with the sick resonated widely, echoing his earlier rest after the surgery and the first images released from his hospital room.
As Leo XIV eases back into his routine, the focus will be on his recovery and the upcoming trip to Latin America. The Vatican has promised further updates, and the faithful across Europe and beyond will be following his progress closely.
