{
  "id": 15497651,
  "title": "Cheering crowds greet Pope Leo XIV after lung surgery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/cheering-crowds-greet-pope-leo-xiv-after-lung-surgery",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-18T21:54:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Qatar Tribune",
    "slug": "qatar-tribune",
    "url": "https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/259780/world/cheering-crowds-greet-pope-leo-xiv-after-lung-surgery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pope Leo XIV returned to his duties at the Vatican following lung cancer surgery, greeted by large crowds of cheering believers in St Peter’s Square. The 71-year-old Catholic leader addressed the enthusiastic crowd from his study's window, uttering the words \"Dear brothers and sisters, have a nice Sunday!\" as they celebrated his apparent swift recovery. Michelle Sutko of Chicago, a lifelong Pope supporter, expressed her hope that the pope would fully recover and continue leading the Church for years to come. The pope thanked the staff at Gemelli Hospital, where a malignant tumor was removed from his right lung during a 90-minute operation. Surgeon Stefano Margaritora stated he believed the pope would be fully recovered in approximately ten days. Leo left the hospital on Saturday and was seen off with applause by hospital personnel and onlookers. He expressed feeling \"much better\" and was driven home in an SUV, returning to his residence after five days in the hospital. Despite the successful surgery, it is unclear whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The Pope is currently receiving respiratory therapy and is planning to take a trip to South America.",
  "summary": "dpaRome Pope Leo XIV has resumed his duties at the Vatican after lung cancer surgery.At his first public appearance, the head of the Catholic Church was cheered by tens of thousand...",
  "key_points": [
    "Pope Leo XIV undergoes lung cancer surgery at Gemelli Hospital.",
    "Crowds in St Peter’s Square cheer as he returns to duties.",
    "Surgeon predicts pope will recover within ten days."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}