Pope Leo XIV prays Angelus after hospital discharge

Pope Leo XIV prayed the Angelus on Sunday from his Vatican apartment overlooking São Pedro Square. It is the Pope’s first public commitment since he underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his lung. The 71-year-old priest was discharged Saturday from Gemelli Hospital in Rome, four days after the surgical procedure.

The appearance of the leader of the Catholic Church comes at a time of global attention to his health. The faithful and authorities have been following the unfoldings since the hospitalization last week. The Sunday prayer was broadcast live and gathered a crowd in the square, who waved and prayed together with the pontiff.

Rapid recovery surprises medical staff

In a statement released on Saturday, the director of the Vatican's Health and Hygiene Directorate, Luigi Carbone, and the head of the thoracic surgery team responsible for the operation, Stefano Margaritora, said that the results of the tests and the clinical evaluation allowed the hospital to be discharged. The release occurred four days after surgery, a period considered short for this type of intervention.

The Pope’s doctors said the surgery was successfully completed without complications. They have not yet disclosed the size of the tumor nor whether the disease has spread to nearby lymph nodes, important factors in determining prognosis. The absence of these data keeps the medical community and the faithful waiting for the next steps of treatment.

On Friday, the Vatican released the first images of the pontiff since surgery. In the photographs, he appears celebrating a Mass and standing without help. The images reinforce the impression of a stable recovery, although the Holy See has not detailed the complete clinical status.

International agenda maintained, but with reservations

The Holy See said preparations for the Pope’s trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, scheduled for November 6-17 and considered one of the most intense organized for a pontiff in decades, were ongoing. The trip includes multiple trips, public events and meetings with local authorities, requiring considerable physical resistance.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said on Friday that Leo XIV might need to adjust the pace of his agenda going forward, “according to the conditions of his health.” It is unusual for a cardinal to openly declare that a pope may need to modify his routine. The declaration signals caution within the Roman Curia, even in the face of apparent recovery.

Health experts heard by the Italian press, with no direct link to the case, recall that chest surgeries require weeks of rest and respiratory physiotherapy. However, the Vatican has not confirmed any changes to the official schedule of the South American trip.

Impact on the faithful and the Church

The pope’s rapid return to public activities has an important symbolic effect. For Catholics, the presence of the pontiff in the window of the papal apartment represents continuity and stability. The Square of São Pedro registered great movement this Sunday, with pilgrims of various nationalities.

Behind the scenes, however, the health of Leo XIV remains a central theme. The lack of information on the staging of the tumor prevents a definitive assessment of the severity of the condition. The source did not detail whether there will be any new tests or complementary treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

The episode also reignites debate over the ability of an elderly pope to maintain a demanding global agenda. Cardinal Parolin’s statement, though restrained, opens space for discussions on delegation of functions and pastoral priorities.

Next steps and expectations

The Vatican is expected to release new medical bulletins in the coming days, according to the pontiff’s clinical evolution. The expectation is that the anatomopathological results of the tumor will be known soon, which will allow to define the prognosis more precisely.

In the meantime, the official agenda remains in place, but with the exception of what adjustments may occur. The trip to South America, if confirmed, will be a decisive test for the physical stamina of Leo XIV. The international community closely follows each new communiqué of the Holy See.

For the readers of the Boca no Trombone Portal, the case reinforces the importance of tracking global issues with direct impact on the lives of millions of people. The health of a religious leader influences not only the Catholic Church, but also the geopolitical and humanitarian scenario in various regions.

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