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Pope Leo XIV reappears after surgery: I will return to my duties gradually
At his first Angelus prayer since leaving the hospital, the pope thanked the faithful and the medical staff of the Gemelli Polyclinic.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 18, 2026, 12:27 · Updated 12:20 · 1 min read
In brief
- Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery on Tuesday at Gemelli to remove a cancerous nodule from his lung.
- He was discharged from the hospital on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday greeted the faithful in St. Peter's Square.
- All of his audiences have been canceled until Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance on Sunday since his surgery, leading the Angelus prayer before thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.
According to Vatican News, the pope underwent an operation on Tuesday at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic to remove a cancerous nodule from his lung. He left the hospital on Saturday afternoon after blood tests and a chest X-ray showed he was fit to return to the papal apartments.
Thanks for the faithful and the doctors
At the end of the prayer, the pope thanked everyone who has prayed for him in recent days, saying he had truly felt their support. He also expressed gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Gemelli, and said the illness had brought him closer to those who live with suffering and helplessness.
The pontiff said that, with the delicate phase now behind him, he will resume his activities step by step. The Prefecture of the Papal Household has canceled all audiences until Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Catholic media noted that the pope did not mention his planned trip to South America, scheduled for early November, while his upcoming schedule is expected to be clarified by the Vatican in the coming days.
