By Soledad Álvarez
Vatican City, Oct 18 (EFE).- Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance since leaving hospital at the Vatican’s Angelus prayer on Sunday, saying he would gradually resume his activities after recovering from surgery for a cancerous lung tumor.
“Now that this delicate phase has passed, as you know, I will gradually resume my activities, always with the help of God and your prayers,” the 71-year-old pontiff said after the prayer, addressing thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
At noon, Leo XIV appeared at the window of his chambers in the Apostolic Palace, smiling and waving to the crowd, which greeted him with loud applause. “Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!” he said before beginning the Angelus.
“I have deeply felt your support”
After the prayer, the Pope delivered a shorter-than-usual address, thanking those who had prayed for him in recent days.
“I have deeply felt your support. Thank you!” he said.
He also expressed special gratitude to the doctors, nurses and other staff at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic, where he underwent surgery last Tuesday and remained until Saturday to recover.
“This experience has allowed me to feel, in a particular way, a closeness to all those who are living through illness or a state of infirmity,” the Pope said.
This experience has particularly brought me closer to those suffering from illnesses and ailments,” said Leo XIV, whose appearance, including the prayer and his subsequent address, lasted about eight minutes.
Faithful welcome Pope’s return
The Pope’s reappearance prompted an emotional response from the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to testimonies collected by EFE.
“We thought we weren’t going to see him. We are happy because divine providence allowed it,” said Cindy, who was traveling with a fellow Colombian Emilia, expressing their hope that the Pope would recover and remain in office “for many more years.”
“We have faith that everything will turn out well,” said Patricia, from California, who described seeing Leo XIV as “a dream.”
Venezuelan priest Ernesto Villegas said the Angelus had been eagerly awaited and praised the pontiff’s resilience.
“The Pope has shown he is a man to be reckoned with. He does not falter; he resumes his agenda and moves forward like a good shepherd who continues to give his life for his sheep,” he told EFE.
Recovery after lung surgery
Exactly one week earlier, during the Angelus, Leo XIV had surprised the faithful by announcing that he would soon undergo surgery after doctors detected a nodule in his lung.
The operation took place on Tuesday afternoon at Gemelli hospital. According to the subsequent medical report, surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung after identifying an adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer.
His recovery proceeded favourably, and his clinical condition was “absolutely satisfactory” when he was discharged on Saturday, according to Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who operated on him and heads Gemelli’s thoracic surgery unit.
The Pope’s return to the Angelus had also raised expectations that he might provide an update on his treatment or address his planned visit to Argentina, Uruguay and Peru from Nov. 6 to 17. However, he made no reference to either subject.
In an interview with Vatican media on Saturday, Margaritora said there were no medical grounds to rule out the trip.
“I would say there are no clinical reasons why that trip cannot take place,” he said.
The first Latin American tour of Leo XIV’s pontificate is scheduled to include as many as 14 flights, more than 40 speeches and meetings, nine large Masses and a visit to Cusco, Peru, a city located at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres. EFE
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