Pope Leo pledges gradual return to duties after lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo XIV told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on October 18, 2026, that he would return to his duties gradually after lung cancer surgery, making his first public appearance since the operation.¹²³⁵

Return to public duties

Leo addressed the gathering from a window of the Apostolic Palace for the Angelus prayer and blessing. The Associated Press reported that he spoke and appeared as usual. Thousands of pilgrims and visitors attended, according to Vatican News, which described the occasion as his first scheduled event since leaving Gemelli hospital.¹³⁶

The pope thanked those who had prayed for him during his illness. He said he had “truly felt your support” and described the experience as bringing him closer to others living with illness or infirmity. His pledge to resume activities was gradual rather than an announcement of an immediate return to his usual workload.¹²³⁵

AFP reported that Leo was discharged from Gemelli hospital on Saturday. According to NPR, his stay ended earlier than initially expected, and he said he was feeling “much better” when he left. His appearance at the Vatican followed his departure from hospital by a day.¹²⁵

Recovery and further tests

The operation removed part of the pope’s right lung. NPR reported that surgeons removed the lower lobe four days before his public appearance and that the surgery confirmed adenocarcinoma. According to AFP, the tumour had been found incidentally during a routine abdominal X-ray.¹²⁶

His surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, described his clinical condition as satisfactory and estimated that full recovery would take about another 10 days. That assessment accompanied the pope’s return to public view, but results from tests examining whether the cancer had spread were still awaited, AFP reported.¹²

NPR reported that histological examination of the tumour and associated lymph nodes was underway. The findings would help doctors decide whether further treatment was needed, it said. Options identified in that report included chemotherapy, chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, or targeted medication taken orally.²

November travel plans

Margaritora said there were no clinical grounds preventing the pope’s planned journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. AFP put the trip’s dates at November 6–17. The same outlet reported that Leo had already undertaken some work, including calling Vladimir Putin to urge a ceasefire in Oleshky.¹²