VATICAN CITY, Oct 21 - Pope Leo XIV returned to St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, waving to pilgrims and blessing babies from his open-air popemobile as he held his first general audience at the Vatican since undergoing lung cancer surgery eight days ago.
The 71-year-old pontiff, who pledged on Sunday that he would slowly resume his duties as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, stood in the back of the vehicle as it drove through the square, waving, smiling and stopping to talk to pilgrims.
Pope Leo XIV had the lower lobe of his right lung removed in surgery on October 13 and has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer.
The diagnosis, for the youngest pope in decades, elected only in May 2025, caused shock and raised questions about the future shape of his papacy.
Wednesday's audience, the first His Holiness has held since October 7, followed a normal format. Crowds began gathering hours ahead of the 9.45am (0745 GMT) start time, holding umbrellas under drizzling grey skies.
"The first thing I want to say to you is thank you for the support and prayers," the Pope told the crowds in his opening remarks for the 50-minute event, without specifically mentioning his health.
"Thanks be to God for his generosity. Let us renew our trust in the goodness and mercy of God," said His Holiness, speaking in a clear voice as cheers broke out in the Square.
Papal calendar still in flux
After touring the Square on Wednesday, the pontiff offered a sermon in Italian. In the only major change from previous occasions, Pope Leo XIV gave brief greetings afterwards in seven instead of nine other languages.
His Holiness' doctors have said the surgery was completed successfully, without complications. They have not yet disclosed the size of the tumour or whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes, key factors in determining prognosis.
The Vatican has provided no indication of the Pope's schedule beyond Wednesday.
The pontiff is due to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to November 17, in one of the most intense trips arranged for a Catholic leader in decades, but it remains unclear if that trip will go ahead as planned.
Pope Leo XIV's lead surgeon said the pontiff could fully recover in time for the trip, but the Vatican's secretary of state said His Holinessmay need to adjust his schedule to aid recovery.
