Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance after being discharged from the hospital

On Sunday, October 18, 2026, Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance following his recent hospitalization. According to the Orthodox Times, the pontiff addressed the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican to thank them for their support.

The pope, who was discharged from Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Saturday afternoon, admitted that his illness had been a critical time for him. “I felt your support. Now, with God’s help and thanks to your prayers, I am gradually resuming my duties,” he said. Leo XIV also emphasized that this experience helped him gain a deeper understanding of the plight of people facing serious illnesses, and he expressed special gratitude to the doctors and medical staff at the clinic for the care they provided.

As for the pontiff’s future plans, according to media reports, the Pope hopes to carry out his planned visit to Latin America, which is scheduled for November 6–17. However, the final decision on the trip will be made solely on the basis of the recommendations of the medical team that performed the surgery on Tuesday.

As a reminder, the Vatican had previously officially confirmed that the 71-year-old Pope Leo XIV had been diagnosed with lung cancer. The pontiff underwent successful surgery, during which specialists removed the lower lobe of his right lung.