ROME, Oct 18 — Pope Leo XIV addressed thousands of people in St Peter’s Square today, smiling and saying he would resume work “gradually” in his first major public appearance since undergoing lung cancer surgery.
The 71-year-old pope had part of his right lung removed in the surgery on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli hospital and he was discharged yesterday.
“I would like to thank all the people who have been praying for me in these days,” the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics told the crowd.
“Having overcome this delicate phase, as you know I will now gradually resume my activities,” said the pope, who looked well and spoke normally.
