Pope Leo XIV returned to St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on Wednesday, October 21, to hold a General Audience, one week after undergoing surgery for lung cancer.
The usual weekly gathering proceeded in the customary format: Leo XIV walked across the square in the papal car, greeting the assembled faithful and blessing infants.
Addressing the crowd, the Pope stated: 'The first thing I want to tell you is thank you for your support and prayers.'
It should be noted that Pope Leo XIV is gradually resuming his work schedule following the surgical intervention.
As is known, His Holiness left the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on the evening of Saturday, October 17, where a nodule suspected of being a malignant tumor in the lung was removed last Tuesday.
Leo XIV emerged smiling, greeting the people waiting for him. At one point, he even spoke with a family that presented him with a gift. The young woman he spoke with was reportedly also undergoing treatment, according to some media outlets.
The Pope was met with long applause in an atmosphere of strong emotion. After these moments, he entered the car that was to take him back to the Vatican.
Leo XIV, who is 71 years old, underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after doctors discovered a suspicious nodule. The surgical procedure confirmed that he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.