Pope Leo XIV made a public appearance in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, a day after leaving hospital. CBS News reports that he thanked thousands of faithful and said he will resume his activities after cancer surgery. He was discharged four days after the operation in which a portion of his right lung was removed and lung cancer was diagnosed earlier in the week.
A separate CBS report quotes the pope's surgeon, who described him as an ideal patient and said the tumour on his right lung was discovered while he was being examined for another reason. I have not seen the full interview, so I cannot give further medical detail. The pope is 71, according to CBS, and the Vatican said earlier that the surgery was successful.
The speed of recovery has been striking. In the space of about a week, the pope went from announcing a lung nodule to surgery, diagnosis, discharge and a public blessing. The Vatican has said he will resume some duties, but what that means in practice, and how soon he will return to a full schedule, will depend on his doctors' advice.
For many believers, the sight of the pope appearing in public was reassuring, and messages of support have come from around the world. It is also a reminder that even people in demanding public roles must make time for recovery. Readers should rely on official Vatican statements for updates on his health and schedule, and avoid speculation. The next steps may include follow-up treatment, which the Vatican has not detailed in the reports I saw. Respect for his privacy, and for his decision on how to share information, is worth keeping in mind.
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