Pope Leo Returns to St. Peter’s 8 Days After Lung Cancer Surgery

What happened

Pope Leo XIV returned to St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, Oct. 21, for his first general audience since surgery for lung cancer eight days earlier. He rode through the crowd in the open popemobile shortly before 9:45 a.m. Rome time, waving and stopping to bless babies, according to Reuters and America Magazine.

His first words to the crowd were a thank-you for their prayers and support. He did not talk about his health in detail. People had started lining up around 5 a.m., in rain that cleared shortly before he arrived, America Magazine reported.

It was his first Wednesday audience since Oct. 7. The Vatican trimmed the program: the formal part ran about 30 minutes instead of the usual 45, and greetings were read in seven languages rather than nine. He still stayed well past the formal part, greeting bishops and posing for a photo with more than 100 married couples.

How the past 10 days unfolded

He was originally expected to stay in the hospital until Oct. 20, CBS News reported. His doctors cleared him to go home after blood tests, a chest X-ray and a clinical exam.

What doctors have said

The lead surgeon, Prof. Stefano Margaritora, who heads thoracic surgery at Gemelli, told Vatican News that the discovery was “entirely accidental.” The pope had no symptoms, and the growth turned up in tests done for another reason, CBS reported. Margaritora said the tumor sat at the base of the lung, where it happened to be visible.

Doctors have said the operation went well and without complications, according to Reuters. Several important details have not been made public, including the tumor’s size and whether the cancer reached nearby lymph nodes. Reuters noted that those details are key to the outlook. America Magazine reported that test results expected in the coming days should show whether the surgery removed all of the cancer and whether any further treatment is needed. The Vatican has not announced any further treatment.

The term explained: adenocarcinoma and a lobectomy

The right lung has three sections, called lobes. Removing one of them is known as a lobectomy. “Video-assisted” means surgeons work through small cuts with a camera rather than opening the chest widely, which usually means a faster recovery.

Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in gland-forming cells. Reuters described it as the most common form of lung cancer. Leo’s cancer was found at an early stage, by his own account on Oct. 11, but doctors have not released a formal stage.

What happens next

The biggest question is his trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, scheduled for Nov. 6 to 17. Reuters called it one of the most demanding trips planned for a pope in decades. Peru carries special weight: Leo lived there on and off for about two decades and holds Peruvian citizenship, NPR reported.

The signals so far point in different directions:

• For the trip: Margaritora said there is no clinical reason for the pope to skip it, and the Vatican published the list of journalists accredited for the trip on Oct. 16.
• Caution: The Vatican’s secretary of state said the pope may need to adjust his schedule to help his recovery, Reuters reported, and the Vatican has not released any schedule beyond Wednesday’s audience.
• Timing: The trip begins 16 days after the audience and 24 days after surgery. Outside surgeons quoted by NPR said travel is usually possible roughly two weeks after this kind of operation, and that fit patients often feel back to normal within 7 to 10 days.

Quick answers

What kind of cancer does Pope Leo have?

Tests after his Oct. 13 surgery confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, which Reuters describes as the most common type of lung cancer. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung.

How old is Pope Leo XIV?

He is 71. He was elected in May 2025 and leads about 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

Is the pope still going to South America?

The Nov. 6 to 17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru remains on the calendar. His surgeon sees no medical reason to cancel, but the Vatican has not confirmed his schedule.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a health care provider about your situation.