Pope Leo XIV presided over the Angelus prayer from the window of his apartment at the Vatican Apostolic Palace this Sunday, a day after being discharged from the hospital following surgery for a cancerous tumor in his lung.
Thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square greeted the pontiff with applause as he appeared at the window at noon, according to a report by EFE agency from the Vatican.
The pope took the opportunity to publicly thank those who showed their affection during his convalescence: "I want to thank all those who have prayed for me in these days; I have truly felt your support. Thank you!"
He also expressed special gratitude to the team at the Policlínico Universitario Agostino Gemelli in Rome, where he underwent a video-assisted surgery lasting approximately 90 minutes on Tuesday, October 13, during which the lower lobe of his right lung was removed.
The histological examination confirmed that the tumor was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common subtype of this type of cancer, although it was detected incidentally during routine abdominal tests, without the patient presenting any respiratory symptoms.
The pontiff also shared a personal reflection on his experience: "This experience has made me feel a special closeness to those going through illness and suffering."
At the end of his address, León XIV announced that he would gradually resume his commitments: "Once this delicate phase has passed, as you know, I will slowly return to my activities, always with God's help and your prayers."
The reappearance occurs exactly one week after the pope himself announced during the previous Sunday’s Angelus that he would undergo surgery for a lung nodule detected at a "very early" and "well-localized" stage.
After the surgery, Leon XIV was discharged on Saturday after blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed his fitness to leave the medical center, four days after the operation.
The responsible surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, director of the Thoracic Surgery Unit at Gemelli, described the Pope's condition as "absolutely satisfactory" and commented on his upcoming international trip.
"I would say there are no clinical reasons why that trip cannot be made," said Margaritora in reference to the apostolic visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, scheduled from November 6 to 17.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household had canceled all papal audiences until Tuesday, October 20, while doctors await the definitive results regarding the molecular and genetic composition of the tumor to determine if any additional treatment will be necessary.
Margaritora estimated that the Pope will need about ten more days to achieve a full physical recovery, which would leave approximately three weeks before the start of the Latin American journey, a trip of special significance for León XIV due to his long-standing connection with the region.
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