Catholic Faithful Welcome Pope Leo XIV Back to the Vatican
Catholic faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square on Sunday to welcome Pope Leo XIV back to the Vatican following surgery to remove a lung tumor.
Raleigh Durham, NC, October 18, 2026 —
Catholic faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday to welcome Pope Leo XIV back to the Vatican following surgery to remove a lung tumor, according to the available account.
The summary identifies the gathering as a welcome marking the pope’s return to the Vatican. It does not provide details about how many people attended, what took place during the gathering, or whether the pope addressed those present.
Information about the surgery is also limited. The account says it was to remove a lung tumor but does not state when the procedure took place, where it was performed, or provide details about the pope’s condition or recovery. It does not include a statement from the Vatican or medical personnel.
The precise date of the Sunday gathering was not provided. No direct remarks from Pope Leo XIV or attendees were included, and the account does not describe any further events following his return. Those details therefore cannot be confirmed from the information available.
The reported event was a gathering of Catholic faithful in St. Peter’s Square to welcome the pope back to the Vatican after the operation. Beyond that, the available account offers no additional information about the welcome or the circumstances surrounding his return.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on abc7chicago.com, see more information here.
