Pope Leo promised this Sunday to gradually resume his usual activities as the leader of the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world, as he greeted the crowd in St. Peter’s Square during his first public appearance since undergoing surgery to treat a lung cancer five days earlier.
The pontiff, 71 years old, underwent surgery on Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of the right lung, which fueled speculation about how his illness could alter his 17 months as pope.
Smiling from a window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace as he spoke to the pilgrims below with a firm and clear voice this Sunday, the first North American pope thanked people from around the world for their prayers and said that he would now begin to resume his normal routine.
“Having overcome this delicate phase… I will now gradually resume my activities, always with the help of God and your prayers,” Leo said.
The pope, who was discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday, arrived at the palace window unassisted and fulfilled his weekly noon pledge as usual.
He also urged the pilgrims gathered below, under a cloudy sky, to lay aside any selfish ambitions and to serve God “without concessions”.
Nun Weeps Upon Leo’s Appearance
Leo was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. The diagnosis, for the youngest pope in decades, elected only in May 2025, caused consternation.
His doctors discharged him on Saturday after blood tests and chest scans performed that day showed that he was well enough to return home. The doctors said he was capable of performing normal daily activities independently.
The crowd in St. Peter’s Square, which totaled about 15,000 people according to the Vatican, shouted and clapped loudly when Leo first appeared at the window on Sunday. A Catholic nun knelt and cried, covering her face with her hands.
Just a few steps away, a group of other nuns held up a sign reading: “Our best wishes, Holy Father. We love you and are praying for you.”
Pope’s Schedule in Flux
Leo typically has a full agenda, but the Vatican canceled his other public events at least through Wednesday, when he is expected to hold a weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square. It was not stated whether he would hold that audience.
The pope also plans to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, in one of the most intensive trips organized for a Catholic leader in recent decades.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the pope’s chief surgeon, said on Saturday that Leo could be fully recovered in time for that trip.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, however expressed skepticism. He told reporters on Friday that the pope might need to adjust the pace of his schedule going forward “in accordance with health status”.
