Pope Leo XIV tells crowd in St. Peter's Square he will gradually resume duties after lung surgery
CBS News reported Pope Leo XIV spoke from his window at the Angelus on Sunday, Oct. 18. He said he would gradually resume his activities. America Magazine said about 20,000 people were in St. Peter's Square and that it was his first public remarks since surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital five days earlier. The Vatican said the lower lobe of his right lung was removed after a lung cancer diagnosis. He was discharged Saturday. His surgeon said there was no clinical reason he could not make a planned Nov. 6-17 trip to South America.
Leo is the first American pope, and his health affects the Church's agenda, including a long trip to South America next month. A cancer diagnosis this early in a papacy also prompts questions about workload.
For U.S. Catholics, the news is that the pope is back in public view and plans to travel. Parish and diocesan events tied to his schedule should go ahead for now. His surgeon's assessment that travel is clinically possible is the main signal about how quickly he can return to a full schedule.
His surgeon said there was no clinical reason Leo could not make his planned Nov. 6-17 trip to South America, and America Magazine described the Angelus appearance as a strong first step. On that reading, the Vatican expects a fairly quick return to his normal agenda.
CBS News highlighted that Leo himself said he would resume activities only gradually. That leaves room for a lighter calendar while he recovers from cancer surgery, and NPR noted the Vatican has not released a full treatment plan.
Confirmed: surgery, discharge and the Angelus remarks. Not confirmed: the full treatment plan. Watch whether the Nov. 6 trip stays on the calendar.
DailyDrop U.S. No. 15 · October 19, 2026