Christian World | The pope says he will resume his activities gradually; his public audiences are cancelled until Tuesday

ACW | 19 October 2026 — Pope Leo XIV, head of the Catholic Church, thanked the faithful who had prayed for him at his first Angelus prayer since lung surgery on Sunday (18 October).

According to Vatican News, the pope said: “I have truly felt your support. Thank you!” He gave “special thanks” to the doctors, nurses and all the staff of Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

The pope underwent surgery on Tuesday (13 October) to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung. According to Vatican News, he was discharged on Saturday (17 October) after blood tests and a chest X-ray.

The pope said the experience had brought him closer to people living with illness. “Now that this delicate phase has passed,” he added, he will gradually resume his activities. All of the pope’s public audiences have been cancelled until Tuesday (20 October).

At the same time, the pope announced a plenary indulgence for the 100th World Mission Sunday. Pope Pius XI established the day in 1926, and this year’s theme is “One in Christ, united in mission.”

Why it matters: The pope leads about 1.422 billion Catholics worldwide. According to Vatican News, the pope’s surgeon has said there is no medical reason to cancel his upcoming trip to South America.

Background: CBS News reported on 16 October that the pope was diagnosed with lung cancer after the surgery. In the days after the operation, the Vatican said the pope’s condition was “steadily improving.” New figures from the Fides agency, released on 16 October, put the world’s Catholic population at 1.422 billion.

Afghanistan Christian Watch is following this story.

Sources: Vatican News — Angelus; Vatican News — plenary indulgence; Vatican News — interview with the pope’s surgeon; Vatican News — Fides statistics; CBS News

Photo: Vatican Media