Vatican City, October 2026 : Pope Leo XIV on Sunday expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who prayed for his recovery following lung surgery, saying he had “truly felt” their support during his recent hospitalisation. The Pontiff also thanked doctors, nurses and medical staff at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for their care, as he began a gradual return to his official duties.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo said, “I have truly felt your support. Thank you!” He expressed particular appreciation for the medical team at the Gemelli Policlinic, where he underwent surgery on Tuesday to remove a cancerous nodule from his lung.
“This experience has allowed me to feel, in a particular way, a closeness to all those who are living through illness or a state of infirmity,” the Pope said, reflecting on his time in hospital.
The Pontiff was discharged on Saturday afternoon after medical assessments, including blood tests and a chest X-ray conducted earlier that morning, confirmed that he was fit to leave the hospital. Before his departure, he personally thanked the surgeon who performed the operation, the doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff, as well as the rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and the hospital’s leadership.
Pope Leo’s appearance at the Angelus on Sunday was his first scheduled public engagement since his discharge. Thousands of pilgrims and visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square to welcome him and participate in the weekly Marian devotion.
Acknowledging that he had passed through a delicate phase of treatment and recovery, the Pope said he would gradually resume his activities, with the help of God and the continued prayers of the faithful.
“Now that this delicate phase has passed—as you know—I will gradually resume my activities, always with the help of God and your prayers,” he said.
Ahead of the surgery, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, which coordinates the Pope’s public engagements, had announced the cancellation of his audiences through Tuesday, October 20.
Pope Reflects on Faith, Responsibility and Truthfulness
Before leading the Angelus, Pope Leo reflected on one of Jesus Christ’s best-known teachings: “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The passage describes Jesus responding to a question about paying taxes, which was intended to trap him. According to the Pope, Jesus’ response was astute because it enabled him to avoid the trap while exposing the hypocrisy of those questioning him.
Pope Leo said the passage reveals a God who is not afraid of human history but chooses to enter into it. He explained that God’s kingdom does not eliminate human roles and responsibilities; rather, it calls people to fulfil them with honesty and a clear moral purpose.
Jesus, the Pope said, invites people to live without compromise, free from selfish ambitions and unjust motives, while seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else.
He also cautioned against hypocrisy, pointing to the contrast between the praise Jesus received from those questioning him and their actual intentions.
Explaining the message of the passage, Pope Leo said rendering to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God means being truthful, free from servile fear and hypocrisy, and having the freedom to do good.
World Mission Sunday: Pope Calls for Unity
The Pope’s Angelus remarks also come amid his emphasis on the Church’s missionary responsibilities. In his message for the 100th World Mission Sunday, released on January 25, he urged the Church to continue its missionary journey with joy and commitment, guided by the Holy Spirit.
He stressed the need for hearts united in Christ, reconciled communities and a willingness among all members to cooperate generously and confidently.
At the centre of the Church’s mission, Pope Leo identified the mystery of union with Christ. He said being Christian was not primarily about following a set of practices or accepting particular ideas, but about living in union with Christ and participating in His relationship with the Father through the Holy Spirit.
The Pope emphasised that one of the Church’s primary responsibilities was to renew spiritual and fraternal unity among its members.
Observing the challenges facing the world, including conflicts, polarisation, misunderstandings and mutual distrust, he warned that these divisions weaken the Church’s witness when they also emerge within ecclesial communities.
Pope Leo said the evangelising mission entrusted by Christ to His disciples required reconciled hearts and a genuine desire for communion. The proclamation of the Gospel, he underlined, must therefore remain a collective, communal and synodal undertaking.
As he begins recovering and gradually resumes his responsibilities, the Pope’s message combines gratitude for the support he has received with a renewed call for compassion, unity, truthfulness and service to others.
