Pope grateful for people's prayers, intends to resume duties 'gradually'

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- During his first full day back at the Vatican after lung cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV thanked everyone who prayed for him and said he would "gradually" resume his duties.

"I would like to thank everyone who has prayed for me these past few days. I have truly felt your support. Thank you," he said to applause after praying the Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter's Square Oct. 18.

"I am especially grateful to the doctors, nurses and all the staff" at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung Oct. 13 after medical tests detected a suspicious growth that was later confirmed to be cancerous.

Speaking in his usual forceful and clear voice, the 71-year-old pope said, "This experience has made me feel a special closeness to all those who are facing illness and infirmity."

"Now that I have gotten through this delicate phase, as you know, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God's help and your prayers," he said to applause. 

Pope Leo appeared at the window of the study of the apostolic palace for the traditional Angelus address Oct. 18 after being discharged from the hospital late afternoon Oct. 17 -- earlier than expected.

The Vatican press office had told reporters that the pope was expected to remain hospitalized for about seven days and that all public audiences and events were canceled through Oct. 20.

Surgeon discusses recovery and planned travel

While the pope was cleared for release ahead of the initial estimate, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the lead thoracic surgeon who operated on the pope, said "It takes a couple of weeks to make a truly complete physical recovery."

"Since almost a week has already passed, I believe that all things considered, the pope could be fully recovered in another 10 days or so," he told Vatican News in a video interview released Oct. 17.

Asked about Pope Leo's scheduled trans-Atlantic trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru Nov. 6-17,  Dr. Margaritora said, "As for a long trip involving air travel to take place in about three weeks, I would say that there are no clinical reasons why it should not take place." 

The surgeon said the medical team was "truly pleased" with the pope's immediate post-operative recovery at the hospital because the pope "was an absolutely ideal patient," and he "truly put his heart and soul" into following the staff's instructions "as the most motivated people do."

"As a result, the assistance he needed from us was truly minimal because his determination to recover very quickly and effectively in every respect was truly commendable," he said, adding that the pope quickly "got back on his feet and always did a little more than we asked of him."

"On the second day after the operation we turned around and found him arranging the chairs in the chapel himself," the doctor said. He said staff told the pope, "We can do that," but the pope insisted, "It doesn't matter. I can do it, so I will."

Pope Leo was "always serene, always smiling. He rarely complained despite the pain that, even with all the measures we take, a person inevitably feels," the doctor said, adding that it had been "a routine operation ... without any complications." 

When the pope appeared at the window of the apostolic palace for the Angelus prayer Oct. 18, he smiled and waved to the modest crowd of 15,000 people in the square, which had been barricaded and blocked off to most foot traffic to accommodate runners passing through for Rome's half-marathon. 

He gave a brief reflection on the day's Gospel reading before the noonday prayer, then made brief remarks about the day's celebration of the 100th World Mission Day and expressed his gratitude for those who assisted and prayed for him.

Pope Leo was hospitalized Oct. 13, when he underwent surgery to remove tissue that was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in glandular cells.

Throughout his hospitalization, the Vatican issued daily updates on his condition, reporting that his recovery was progressing as expected and that postoperative test results were "within the expected range."

As his recovery progressed, which included respiratory therapy, he gradually returned to daily activities and celebrating Mass.

Dr. Margaritora told Vatican News that Pope Leo was in "satisfactory clinical condition" when he was released with "completely normal" blood test results and "his heart function was fine."

"The re-expansion of his lung after surgery is proceeding according to the usual timetable, so overall his condition was good," he said.

How the lung tumor was discovered

The doctor said the pope's malignant lung tumor was caught entirely by accident during a routine examination, "as is frequently the situation" in these cases.

During a routine radiological exam of his abdomen, "a small spot" was seen "in the chest at the base of the lung," he said. "If this small spot had been higher up, it would not have been seen."

"Unfortunately, lung cancer, especially in its early stages, causes no symptoms as we saw in the Holy Father's case: he had no respiratory symptoms and felt perfectly fine," he said.

This just goes to show how important prevention is, the doctor said. "The Holy Father falls into the category of people who discover that they have lung cancer entirely by chance, not through preventative screening but through tests for other reasons."

Therefore, people, especially those at risk, should undergo regular preventative checkups not only for breast or colon cancers, "but also for lung cancer."