Pope Leo Holds First Audience Since Lung Surgery
Pope Leo XIV returned to St. Peter’s Square for his first general audience since surgery to remove part of his lung following a lung cancer diagnosis, saying he would gradually resume his duties. His recovery and November trip to South Amer
FaithTap · Oct 21, 2026 · 1 min read
Pope Leo XIV returned to St. Peter’s Square for his first general audience since surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, waving to pilgrims from the popemobile and thanking them for their support and prayers. The 71-year-old pope has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma; doctors say the operation was successful, but the Vatican has not disclosed details needed to assess his prognosis. Leo has said he will gradually resume his duties, though his schedule and planned November trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru remain uncertain, with reports differing on whether he has been cleared to travel and whether he may need to reduce his pace.