Pope Leo to hold Wednesday audience for first time since lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo, aged 71, will meet with pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday for the first general audience since his lung cancer surgery, according to the Vatican. The procedure, performed on October 13, involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung, raising questions about how the illness might impact his 17-month papacy.

Following his surgery, Leo affirmed on Sunday that he would gradually return to his regular duties as the head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. General audiences with pilgrims are typically held on Wednesdays, either in St. Peter's Square during favorable weather or in an open-top popemobile amidst the throng of tens of thousands of attendees.

The pope, diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent form of lung cancer, has been struck by the youngest in decades, having been elected in May 2025. His medical team assures that the surgery was successful with no complications. However, the Vatican has not disclosed the tumor's size or whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, crucial details for prognosis.

The Vatican has not outlined Leo's future schedule beyond Wednesday. He is scheduled to travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17, but it remains uncertain if this extensive trip will proceed as planned. The lead surgeon believes the pope could be fully recovered in time for the trip, although the Vatican's secretary of state has hinted that the pope might need to modify his pace to facilitate recovery.