VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV thanked the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday for supporting him during his hospitalization and said he would gradually return to his regular responsibilities after surgery to remove a malignant tumor.
The crowd broke into loud cheers when the pontiff appeared at the window overlooking the square. One week earlier, during the traditional Angelus blessing, he had announced that doctors had found a nodule on his lung and planned to remove it surgically.
“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.
The pope said the past week had made him feel particularly close to people dealing with illness and physical frailty. He told those gathered that he had genuinely felt their support and offered special thanks to the doctors, nurses and other staff at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he received treatment.
After briefly pausing to wave to the crowd, the pope withdrew into his apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
Members of an African delegation attending a congress in Rome celebrated after receiving the pope’s blessing, dancing and ululating in the square.
“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. “This is an expression of our joy.”
The 71-year-old pope underwent surgery Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, marking the first major health crisis of his 17-month pontificate. Tests confirmed that he had adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
Speaking to a reporter in English as he left Rome’s Gemelli hospital for the Vatican, Leo said he was doing “much better.” He was discharged sooner than doctors had initially expected.
“I don’t believe it, because he was just operated on the other day,” said Cosimo Mastrocinque, a retired factory worker visiting from Italy’s southern Puglia region. “It is a miracle that he recovered already.”
American visitors were especially enthusiastic about praying alongside the first pope born in the United States. Marla Marsala of Michigan had been scheduled to attend Mass with Leo the previous week, but the service was canceled after he was hospitalized.
“I am just happy that we are praying with him today instead of for him, like we were before,” Marsala said. “It was a tough week for all the people who love him, which are many. He seems like a very strong soul, so I think he will pull through, fight it and succeed while continuing the wonderful work he is doing.”
Claire Holland of Jacksonville, Florida, said she felt “very blessed” to witness the pope’s return to his congregation.
“I’m so happy that he has recovered so quickly,” Holland said. “I think there have been millions and millions of prayers. He is a strong, determined man, and I am so happy that he is feeling well enough to do this.”
Leo’s next major appearance is scheduled to be an ambitious Nov. 6-17 journey through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The itinerary includes 12 flights and two helicopter rides to high-altitude locations. His surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican News on Saturday that there were “no clinical reasons” the trip could not go ahead.
“The Holy Father has put his heart and soul into his recovery,” Margaritora told Vatican News. He said the pope was expected to make a full recovery from the operation in about 10 more days.
Doctors were still conducting histological tests on the tumor and nearby lymph nodes. The findings, together with information about the tumor’s molecular and genetic profile, will help determine whether Leo requires further treatment. Possible options include chemotherapy, chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, or targeted oral medication guided by the tumor’s genetic characteristics.
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