Pope Leo XIV made a remarkable return to the Vatican on Sunday, appearing before thousands of Catholic faithful in St.Peter's Square just five days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung.The 71-year-old pontiff delivered his traditional Angelus prayer from a window overlooking the square, marking his first official engagement since being discharged Saturday from Rome's Gemelli hospital, where doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung.Leo thanked the faithful for their prayers and support throughout his hospitalization, saying his recent health struggles had brought him closer to those suffering from illness.
He also expressed gratitude to the doctors, nurses and hospital staff who cared for him following the operation.POPE LEO XIV DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL, WILL RETURN TO VATICAN AFTER SURGERY TO REMOVE LUNG CANCERPope Leo XIV appears at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace overlooking St.Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional noon blessing after praying the Angelus, Sunday, Oct.
18, 2026, a day after he returned from the hospital, where he had lung cancer removed on Tuesday.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)The first American-born pope said he planned to gradually resume his regular activities with God's help and the continued prayers of the faithful.During his Angelus address, Leo reflected on one of Jesus' best-known teachings, "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's," urging Christians to live with integrity and resist hypocrisy.His return came sooner than expected after doctors initially anticipated a hospital stay of approximately one week following Tuesday's surgery.As he departed the hospital on Saturday, the pope told a reporter in English that he was doing "much better."Faithful watch Pope Leo XIV appearing at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace overlooking St.
Peter's Square at the Vatican for the traditional noon blessing aft...