Pope appears in public for first time since surgery
First appearance after surgery
Pope Leo XIV addressed a crowd after being discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday. The operation removed part of his right lung. The 71-year-old said he would gradually return to his activities. He spoke normally and appeared physically well as the crowd cheered. He thanked those who prayed for him and expressed gratitude to the hospital’s medical staff, saying the delicate phase was behind him.
Recovery and medical tests
The pope’s surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, described his clinical condition as absolutely satisfactory. He said full recovery would probably take about ten days. Margaritora said the tumor was found during a routine X-ray checkup and characterized the removal operation as routine. Tests of the tumor and related lymph nodes were underway to determine whether additional treatment would be needed. The surgeon praised the pope’s resolve to recover quickly and effectively, speaking to Vatican News.
Trip remains planned
Pope Leo’s next major assignment is a planned South America trip, with visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru scheduled between November 6 and 17. Margaritora said there was no clinical reason for the trip to be called off. The article also reports that the pope raised concerns about Ukrainian civilians during his hospital stay and called Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge a ceasefire in Oleshky.
Key points
- Pope Leo XIV appeared in public after surgery to remove part of his right lung.
- He said he would resume his duties gradually and thanked supporters and hospital staff.
- His surgeon described his condition as satisfactory; test results will determine whether more treatment is needed.
- A South America trip scheduled for November 6–17 remains planned, with no clinical reason cited to cancel it.