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Pope Leo XIV appeared before the public at the Vatican for the first time since undergoing lung surgery on Oct. 13, telling well-wishers at the traditional Sunday Angelus that he would gradually resume his activities.

Speaking from the window of the Vatican office overlooking St. Peter's Square after being discharged from Gemelli Hospital, the Pope thanked the medical team that operated on him and the people who had shown support.

First appearance since surgery

The Pope, who had surgery on his lung at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Oct. 13 and was diagnosed with lung cancer, appeared at the Vatican before the public for the first time after leaving hospital.

Delivering the traditional Sunday Angelus from the window of the Vatican office overlooking St. Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV thanked the health team that performed the operation and all those who had shown support.

The Pope said the experience had brought him especially close to patients. "After this difficult stage has passed, with the help of God and your prayers, I will gradually return to my activities. Thank you again," he said.

Surgeon reports no complications

Prof. Stefano Margaritora, who carried out the operation, told Vatican News that the surgery was completed successfully without any complications and that the Pope's post-operative period had gone well.

Asked whether the Pope could go ahead with a planned visit to Latin American countries from Nov. 6 to 17, Margaritora said: "From a clinical point of view, I see no reason for this visit not to take place."

Announcement and diagnosis

During the Sunday Angelus on Oct. 11, Pope Leo XIV announced that doctors had found a mass in his lung and that, on their advice, he had decided to have the nodule removed. The intervention, the Pope said at the time, was planned for the following few days.

In a written statement after the operation on Oct. 13, the Vatican said the 90-minute procedure had been successful. The lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed using video-assisted radical surgery, and a histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as tests before the operation had suggested.

Pope Leo XIV completed treatment at Gemelli Hospital and was discharged on Oct. 17. Before the surgery, the Vatican had cancelled all of the Pope's engagements through Oct. 20 to allow for recovery.

Press reports said the Pope had decided to have the operation quickly so as not to cancel a South America trip scheduled for Nov. 6 to 17 covering Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

Key takeaways

• Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance at the Vatican after lung surgery on Oct. 13 and a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.
• He said he would gradually return to his activities with the help of God and people's prayers.
• Surgeon Stefano Margaritora said the operation had no complications and saw no clinical reason to cancel the Nov. 6 to 17 Latin America trip.
• The lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed in a 90-minute video-assisted operation.