Pope Leo XIV made a remarkable return to the Vatican on Sunday, appearing before thousands of Catholic faithful in St. Peter's Square just five days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung.
The 71-year-old pontiff delivered his traditional Angelus prayer from a window overlooking the square, marking his first official engagement since being discharged on Saturday from Rome's Gemelli hospital, where doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung. In his address, Pope Leo expressed gratitude to the faithful for their prayers and support throughout his hospitalization, saying his recent health struggles had brought him closer to those suffering from illness.
He also thanked the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who cared for him following the operation, and reflected on one of Jesus' best-known teachings, urging Christians to live with integrity and resist hypocrisy. Pope Leo's return came sooner than expected, as doctors had initially anticipated a hospital stay of approximately one week following Tuesday's surgery.
The surgery marked the first major health crisis of Pope Leo's 17-month pontificate, and doctors confirmed that the tumor was adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Further testing is being conducted to determine the extent of the disease and whether additional treatment may be necessary.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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