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Pope Leads Pilgrims in Prayer After Hospital Discharge
Confirmed
In Short: Pope Leo XIV led pilgrims in prayer in St. Peter's Square one day after being discharged from the hospital following lung cancer surgery.
Pope Leo XIV surprised Catholics around the world by leading pilgrims in prayer in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, just four days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his right lung.
The Pope's reappearance was unexpected given that his schedule has been cleared until October 20, and his doctors had confirmed steady improvement following the 90-minute operation.
During the Angelus prayer, the Pope reflected on the context in which Jesus spoke about paying taxes to the emperor, emphasizing the need to live without compromise and seek the Kingdom of God.
Pope Leo XIV also called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, occupied by Russia, to allow for the evacuation of civilians and the delivery of aid.
The pontiff's call for dialogue and peace came after a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking their first contact since June.
Pope Leo XIV expressed his intention to gradually resume his activities, including a planned trip to Latin America in early November.
The Pope's discharge from Gemelli Hospital was confirmed by his personal physician and surgeon, who noted that blood tests and a chest X-ray showed his clinical condition allowed for his release.
The Pope's return to public life was marked by his first Senate vote since his hospitalization, as he cast his vote from the Senate floor.
In his prayer, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to entrust themselves to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and to live without selfish ambitions and unjust motives.
The Pope's message resonated with parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable works, calling on Christians to put the Gospel into practice by welcoming and supporting those in need.
What this adds
The Pope's call for a ceasefire in Oleshky highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, where civilians are trapped in a 'gray zone' near the front line.
The Pope's discharge and public appearance come as a relief to Catholics worldwide, who have been closely following his health status since the announcement of his surgery.
What's confirmed
- The Pope also spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, in their first call since June 2025.
- About 15 minutes after leaving the hospital, the car carrying him entered Vatican City through the Perugino Gate.
What's still developing
- The surgery on Tuesday, which lasted for 90 minutes, included the removal of the lower lobe of the Pope's right lung.
- On Friday, photographs were released of the Pope celebrating Mass and distributing communion in hospital for staff.
- "I am better, thank you," Leo XIV said as he was driven away in a black SUV.
- The prayer that the Holy Father cited is especially popular in Spanish-speaking countries, where it is often taught to children, as the first petitions rhyme.
- At that time, she was preparing for surgery, and the Pope hugged her and offered words of encouragement.
- Oleshky and its surrounding communities are estimated to have more than 6,000 civilians remaining there, including some 200 children, who are “effectively trapped in a ‘gray zone’ near the front line,” said UCCRO.
- “Today, I’ll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June. I’m really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues,” the GOP senator from Kentucky said in a statement.
- Irfan Ansari wrote, "In this unbearable hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to Deepika ji and the entire family. The pain of losing a child can never be expressed in words for a mother. May God grant the departed soul a place at His feet and give the grieving family the strength to bear this immense loss."
- “The Holy Father underwent thoracic surgery as scheduled. To ensure the radical removal of the tumor, the lower lobe of the right lung was removed using a video-assisted technique. An intraoperative histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, as suspected from preoperative tests,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement concerning the operation performed Tuesday afternoon at Romeʼs Agostino Gemelli University Hospital.
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