Pope Leo blesses babies from his popemobile in St Peter's Square just EIGHT DAYS after lung cancer surgery

'The first thing I want to say to you is thank you for the support and prayers,' the 71-year-old pontiff told pilgrims sheltering under umbrellas, without any reference to his health. Surgeons removed the lower right lung lobe on October 13 after a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, making Wednesday's gathering his first general audience since October 7. The tumour's size and whether cancer had reached the surrounding lymph nodes remain undisclosed by his doctors.

Elected only in May 2025, Leo is among the youngest popes in recent history.

The sole outward difference was that he delivered greetings in seven languages rather than the usual nine.

Beyond Wednesday, the Vatican has given no indication of his schedule, despite planned trips to Uruguay and Argentina.