Pope Leo returns to St Peter's after cancer surgery, will gradually return to duties

After surgery to remove lung cancer, Pope Leo XIV appeared before thousands of faithful in St Peter's Square on Sunday after returning from hospital. Thanking everyone for their prayers while he was in hospital, he said he would gradually return to normal duties.

In Vatican City, as the Pope appeared at the window of the study of the Apostolic Palace during the traditional Angelus blessing, the crowd burst into cheers. A week earlier, on the same occasion, he had informed that a nodule had been found in his lung and that it would be removed through surgery.

'Now this delicate phase is behind me, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God's help and your prayers,' said Leo. Four days after the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung, his voice sounded strong.

The Pope said the experience of the past week made him feel particularly close to people facing illness and frailty. He said he truly felt everyone's support, and expressed special gratitude to the doctors, nurses and all the staff of the Gemelli hospital where he was treated.

Pausing for a moment and waving to the crowd, the Pope returned to his apartment in the Apostolic Palace. A delegation that came from Africa for a congress in Rome expressed joy with dancing and cheers after his blessing.

Alain Kalembu of the Democratic Republic of Congo said the Pope was always in their prayers while he was ill, and today they are happy to see him — this is an expression of their joy.

The 71-year-old Pope's lower lobe of the right lung was removed on Tuesday. It is the first major health event of his 17-month papacy. The surgery confirmed that he has adenocarcinoma — the most common type of lung cancer.

After staying in hospital for less time than initially expected, while being driven back from Rome's Gemelli hospital to the Vatican, he told a reporter in English that he was doing 'much better'.

Cosimo Mastrocinque, a retired factory worker who came to the Vatican from the Puglia region, said he cannot believe it, because the Pope's surgery was only a few days ago; his recovery so quickly seems like a miraculous event.

American tourists were particularly eager to pray beside the first Pope born in the United States. Marla Marsala of Michigan was supposed to join a prayer meeting with the Pope last week, which was cancelled because of his admission to hospital. Marsala said she is happy that today they are praying with the Pope instead of for the Pope; describing the Pope as a person of strong spirit, she expressed hope that he will win this fight and continue his good work.

Claire Holland of Jacksonville, Florida, said she considers herself very fortunate to be present at this moment of the Pope's return to his followers. She mentioned that prayers of millions of people have been offered, and expressed joy that the Pope is feeling well enough to be able to do this.

The Pope's next major program is a visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November — which includes a dozen flights and two helicopter journeys at altitude. His surgeon Dr Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News on Saturday that there is no clinical reason for this trip not to happen. Commenting that the Pope has put his heart and soul into his recovery, he said he expects the Pope to recover fully from the surgery in about 10 more days.

Histological examination of the tumour and the related lymph nodes was under way. The results, including details of the tumour's molecular and genetic structure, will help doctors decide whether the Pope needs additional treatment. The options include chemotherapy, a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or targeted oral therapy based on the tumour's genetic characteristics. For now, gradually returning to duties is his plan.