‘With help of God & your prayers’: Pope makes first public appearance after surgery

Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance on Sunday since undergoing surgery for lung cancer five days ago, addressing crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square from a window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace and assuring the faithful that he would gradually return to his duties.

The 71-year-old pontiff appeared unaided at the window and delivered his customary Sunday noon address in a firm, clear voice, smiling as he spoke to pilgrims gathered below under cloudy skies.

Thanking people around the world for their prayers and support, Leo said he had come through a delicate phase of his recovery and would begin resuming his activities with their continued prayers and God’s help.

“Having overcome this delicate phase ... I will now gradually resume my activities, always with the help of God and your prayers,” he said.

He also urged pilgrims to put aside selfish ambitions and serve God “without compromise”.

The appearance marked Leo’s first public engagement since he underwent an operation on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.

The surgery, which came during the 71-year-old’s 17-month papacy, had raised questions about how his health might affect his ability to carry out his responsibilities as head of the Catholic Church, which has around 1.4 billion members.

Catholic faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square to welcome Leo back after he was discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Saturday, four days after the operation.

The pontiff had indicated that he was recovering well, telling a reporter in English that he was doing “much better” as he left the hospital.

His discharge came earlier than the week-long hospital stay initially anticipated, AP reported.

The operation confirmed that Leo had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.

Tests on the tumour and related lymph nodes were underway, with the results expected to help doctors determine whether he would need further treatment.

Possible treatment options include chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or targeted oral therapy depending on the tumour’s genetic characteristics, according to news agency AP.

Leo’s next major engagement is an overseas trip scheduled for November 6-17, covering Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

The itinerary includes a dozen 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” to rule out the trip.

Margaritora said the pontiff had devoted considerable effort to his recovery and was expected to recover fully from the operation in around 10 more days.

The results of the ongoing tests will help determine whether any additional treatment is required as Leo continues his recovery and prepares to resume his public duties.