Pope Leo told a crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday that he would “gradually resume” his activities, at his first appearance before the faithful since undergoing an operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung.
The 71-year-old was greeted with applause as he appeared unaided at the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace to deliver his Sunday angelus. It was his first public appearance since making the announcement at the previous Sunday’s address that a small nodule had been found on his lung.
The pope was diagnosed with the most common kind of lung cancer – adenocarcinoma – on Tuesday after doctors removed part of his right lung to extract the tumour.
He thanked those who had prayed for him in recent days, saying he appreciated the support, adding that the experience had made him feel especially close “to all those who are going through illness or a state of infirmity”.
“Now that this delicate phase has passed … I will gradually resume my activities, always with the help of God and your prayers,” he said.
He left Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday, where doctors deemed him “fit for discharge” after undergoing blood tests and a chest X-ray that morning.
The Vatican had originally estimated a weeklong stay in hospital.
The pope undertook some work duties in hospital, including making a phone call on Friday to Vladimir Putin, during which he urged the Russian president to call a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
There have been questions over whether Leo would be able to manage a gruelling 12-day trip to South America in November. However, his surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, said on Saturday there were “no clinical reasons” to prevent him travelling.
“The Holy Father has put his heart and soul into his recovery,” Margaritora told Vatican News, adding that he expected the pope to fully recover from the operation “in another 10 days or so”.
Before the cancer diagnosis, Leo, who enjoys sports, especially tennis, was generally believed to be in good health. He often makes use of the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, close to Rome.