Pope Leo XIV back at his window: first major appearance since lung cancer surgery

Update, October 19: Pope back at his window

Pope Leo XIV made his first major public appearance since surgery on Sunday, October 18, leading the Angelus prayer from his window overlooking St Peter's Square. He thanked the roughly 15,000 people gathered below and said that, with God's help and their prayers, he would gradually return to his duties. He said the experience had made him feel especially close to people who are ill, and thanked the doctors, nurses and staff at Gemelli Hospital, from which he has now been discharged.

Tests to determine whether the cancer has spread are still pending. Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the pope may need to adjust his schedule, but his surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, said there were no clinical reasons why the November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru could not go ahead.

How the week unfolded

Pope Leo XIV is recovering faster than expected from lung surgery, and the Vatican has stopped issuing its morning health bulletins as a result, according to the Associated Press. Officials are now weighing whether he could appear for the Sunday prayer.

The 71-year-old pontiff surprised the faithful on October 11 when he announced during the Angelus that a nodule had been found in his lung during routine medical checks. He described it as small, contained and caught early, and said he would undergo surgery within days.

A three-hour operation

On Tuesday, October 13, surgeons at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, led by thoracic specialist Stefano Margaritora, removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Holy See Press Office said the procedure was completed on schedule and without complications. Tissue examined during surgery confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.

By Wednesday the Pope had returned to a regular diet, started walking and celebrated Mass in his hospital apartment. "Recovery is proceeding as planned," the Vatican said. Before surgery, doctors had also carried out a contrast CT scan and a PET scan.

Openness about papal health

Vatican watchers noted the unusual transparency. For most of its history the Holy See released little about a pope's health; Leo's decision to announce the nodule himself, before treatment, marked a clear break. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was treated in the same hospital shortly before his death.

The Latin America question

Leo is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 7 to 16 and asked for prayers for the Peru leg in particular. Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said on Wednesday that recovery could take several weeks, longer than first expected, and might affect the visit, while saying she still hoped it would go ahead. Independent specialists told the AP that the minimally invasive chest surgery he had usually needs 15 to 20 days of recovery.