Pope Leo welcomed back as he delivers Angelus prayer days after lung cancer surgery
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Pope Leo XIV returned to the Vatican and delivered the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square, five days after surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung. His early return drew a large crowd and offered a public sign of recovery, though doctors are still assessing whether he will need further treatment.
The 71-year-old pope had the lower lobe of his right lung removed at Rome’s Gemelli hospital and was discharged on Saturday, earlier than the expected week-long stay. Tests are continuing on the tumour and nearby lymph nodes; his surgeon expects him to recover fully in about 10 days and says there are no clinical reasons to rule out Leo’s planned 6–17 November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
- Leo delivered the Angelus five days after lung surgery.
- Tests will determine whether further cancer treatment is needed.
- His surgeon says the November South America trip remains possible.