Pope Leo XIV after his hospital stay: "I feel closer to those who suffer illness"

Pope Leo XIV thanked thousands of faithful in St. Peter's Square on Sunday for their prayers while he was hospitalized for an operation to remove a malignant tumor. He was discharged from a hospital in Rome earlier on Sunday and returned to the Vatican where he led a prayer overlooking a crowd which erupted in cheers at his sight. The 71-year-old Pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on Tuesday in the first major health event of his 17-month pontificate. Leo's next major engagement is an ambitious trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6th to the 17th, including a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes. His medical team detailed that they expect him to make a full recovery within 10 days, adding that there is no clinical reason for him to cancel his planned journey.