{"id":9740,"date":"2026-10-19T05:09:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T05:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=9740"},"modified":"2026-10-19T05:09:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T05:09:32","slug":"pope-greeted-by-crowds-in-first-major-appearance-since-lung-cancer-surgery-health-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=9740","title":{"rendered":"Pope greeted by crowds in first major appearance since lung cancer surgery | Health News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pope Leo pledges a gradual return to duties in an address to the Catholic faithful in St Peter\u2019s Square at the Vatican.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published On 19 Oct 2026<\/span>19 Oct 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Pope Leo XIV has thanked some 15,000 Catholic faithful gathered in St Peter\u2019s Square during his Sunday address, his first major public appearance since lung cancer surgery.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that this delicate phase is behind me, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God\u2019s help and your prayers,\u201d Leo said.<\/p>\n

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The 71-year-old pontiff addressed the crowd from a window overlooking the square at the Vatican, where a week ago on the same occasion of the traditional Angelus blessing, he revealed that a nodule had been found in his lung and would be surgically removed.<\/p>\n

The operation confirmed<\/a> he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.<\/p>\n

Test results to determine whether the cancer has spread are still pending.<\/p>\n

Leo said the experience of the past week \u201chas made me feel especially close to those facing illness and infirmity\u201d.<\/p>\n

He told the crowd that he had \u201ctruly felt your support\u201d and expressed \u201cparticular gratitude to the doctors, nurses and all the staff at Gemelli Hospital\u201d in Rome, where he was treated.<\/p>\n

The pope paused for a moment and waved before retreating into his apartment in the Apostolic Palace.<\/p>\n

\"Faithful
Catholic faithful watch Pope Leo XIV appearing at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace overlooking Saint Peter\u2019s Square at the Vatican for the traditional noon blessing on October 18, 2026 [Gregorio Borgia\/AP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A delegation from Africa, in Rome for a Catholic meeting, danced and ululated after the pope\u2019s blessing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was always in our prayers when he was sick, and we are happy to see him today,\u2033 Alain Kalembu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said. \u201cThis is an expression of our joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Claire Holland from Jacksonville, Florida, United States, said she felt \u201cvery blessed\u201d to be present for the pope\u2019s return to his flock.<\/p>\n

There had been doubts that a planned papal voyage to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru in November would go ahead.<\/p>\n

The Vatican\u2019s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told journalists on Friday that the pope may need to adjust the pace of his schedule \u201caccording to the condition of his health\u201d.<\/p>\n

But Leo\u2019s surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican News he believed there were \u201cno clinical reasons why the trip should not go ahead\u201d.<\/p>\n

Latin Americans in the crowd in St Peter\u2019s Square welcomed the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all hoping for his recovery, and that he has gotten through the situation well. We know that he is OK, and we\u2019re pleased,\u201d Soledad Espinosa from Ecuador said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Pope Leo pledges a gradual return to duties in an address to the Catholic faithful in St Peter\u2019s Square at the Vatican. Published On 19 Oct 202619 Oct 2026 Pope Leo XIV has thanked some 15,000 Catholic faithful gathered in St Peter\u2019s Square during his Sunday address, his first major public appearance since lung cancer…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t