Pope Leo XIV delivers Angelus prayer and vows to resume duties after lung surgery

The pontiff thanked the crowd, praised hospital staff and announced a phased return to his papal responsibilities.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 18 Oct 2026 19:22:27 GMT

Pope Leo XIV appeared in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday to lead the traditional Angelus prayer, four days after surgery to remove a cancerous nodule from his right lung, as reported by CBS News and the New York Post.

What happened

From a window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking the square, the pontiff greeted thousands of faithful, waved, and delivered the noon Angelus. The appearance marked his first public outing since the operation that removed the lower lobe of his right lung.

What the reports add

CBS News noted that the Angelus was broadcast live about two hours before the article’s publication, emphasizing the recent health update.
The New York Post described the crowd’s enthusiastic reaction, including cheers and a celebratory dance by an African delegation present in Rome, which ululated after the blessing.
The post also highlighted that American tourists were especially eager to pray alongside the first U.S.-born pope.

What was said

“Now that this delicate phase is behind me, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God’s help and your prayers,”

Leo said, according to the New York Post. He added that the past week had brought him closer to those suffering illness and expressed “particular gratitude to the doctors, nurses and all the staff at Gemelli Hospital.”

“He was always in our prayers when he was sick, and we are happy to see him today,”

Alain Kalembu of the Democratic Republic of Congo told the Post, speaking for the African delegation.

How it came about

The Angelus followed a rapid sequence of events: the Vatican announced on Oct. 15 that Leo had been diagnosed with lung cancer, prompting adjustments to his schedule. He celebrated a makeshift Mass at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Oct. 16, thanking staff and police, and doctors confirmed steady post‑operative improvement. The Sunday prayer therefore represented his first public appearance after those medical milestones.

Key facts

Pope Leo XIV delivered the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter's Square four days after lung surgery. (cbsnews.com)
The surgery removed a malignant nodule from the lower lobe of his right lung. (nypost.com)
He said he will gradually resume his papal duties. (nypost.com)
He thanked the doctors, nurses and staff at Gemelli Hospital. (nypost.com)