Pope Leo XIV to lead first general audience since lung surgery

Pope Leo XIV will preside at the general audience on Wednesday, October 21, in St. Peter's Square, the Holy See Press Office confirmed Monday. The pope, 71, is recovering at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican after surgery on October 13 at Rome's Gemelli hospital for a lung adenocarcinoma. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung. He was discharged Saturday, three days earlier than the Vatican had initially estimated, after his condition improved.

The weekly audience will go ahead in St. Peter's Square, though the press office did not say whether Leo will take his usual ride among the faithful in the popemobile.

First public appearances since his discharge

On Sunday, barely 24 hours after returning to the Vatican, the pope appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace to lead the Angelus before about 15,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square, who showed him their affection and support. Leo thanked them publicly for their prayers during his days in the hospital and said that, with the most "delicate" phase of the operation behind him, he would resume his activities gradually. The crowd cheered his words.

Besides Wednesday's audience, Leo is due to receive participants in the International Congress on School and University Ministry on Thursday or Friday. The congress will be held October 22 and 23 in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall under the theme "Charting new paths of hope." The press office said it would release updated information on the pope's other activities in the coming hours and days.

Recovering at the Vatican, with no travel

What is not planned, at least for now, is a move to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, a town about 25 to 30 kilometers (15 to 19 miles) southeast of Rome. Since the start of his pontificate, Leo had gone there each Monday until Tuesday evening for 24 hours of work and rest, with time for exercise, reading and prayer. This week he will stay at the Vatican to continue his recovery. The surgeon, Stefano Margaritora, told Vatican media that the recovery period could last around 10 days.

Uncertainty over the Assisi visit

Greater uncertainty surrounds the October 27 visit to Assisi, where Leo was to close the meeting "Peace disarmed and disarming." The meeting is organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio to mark the 40th anniversary of the gathering known as the "Spirit of Assisi," led by John Paul II. For now there is no word on it.

No apparent medical obstacle to the South America trip

The Austrian news agency Kathpress reported that the pope's doctors have said nothing prevents Leo, from a medical standpoint, from making his trip to South America, planned for November 6 to 17, with visits to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. Results are expected in the coming days from tests to determine whether the tumor has metastasized, which could affect whether the trip goes ahead.