Pope Leo XIV addresses crowd in Vatican after cancer surgery

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV made a public appearance in St Peter's Square, greeted by a crowd of thousands who cheered as he smiled and spoke of his swift recovery after lung cancer surgery. The 71-year-old leader had undergone the procedure at Rome's Gemelli hospital on Tuesday and was discharged the following day. In his address, the pontiff thanked the faithful for their prayers and stated he would resume his duties gradually.

The crowd responded with a chorus of "Viva il Papa!" ("Long live the Pope!") as he made his appearance through the window of his Apostolic Palace for the Angelus prayer. Upon his discharge, the Vatican released images of the pope for the first time since the operation. Christopher Butler, a parish priest from England, praised the pope as a "great shepherd for the Catholic Church" and expressed hope that he would continue to lead the Church and serve as a world leader.

However, doubts arose over a planned papal trip to Latin America, scheduled for November 6-17. Despite some concerns, the pope's surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, believed there were no clinical reasons the trip should not proceed. Meanwhile, tests to determine whether the cancer had spread were still pending. The pope made a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, urging a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, demonstrating his commitment to his recovery and his dedication to his duties.