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Pope Leo Resumes Duties After Lung Surgery, Plans Trip

By Drooid · Oct 18, 2026, 5:57 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Pope Leo Returns

Pope Leo returned to the Vatican four days after lung surgery, greeting about 15,000 pilgrims.
He announced a gradual resumption of duties, including the weekly general audience.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora said no clinical reason blocks the planned November 6-17 South America trip.
Pope Leo called Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a ceasefire in Oleshky, Ukraine.

Summary

Varvara Gives Pope

Ukrainian girl Varvara gave Pope Leo a doll and said his hug helped her cancer fight.
Crowds in St. Peter’s Square cheered as Pope Leo appeared at the window after discharge.
Claire Holland of Jacksonville felt blessed hearing millions pray for the Pope’s recovery.
Alain Kalembu of the Democratic Republic of Congo said his delegation danced and ululated.
Cosimo Mastrocinque, retired factory worker from Puglia, called the rapid recovery a miracle.

History

Historical Context

John Paul II’s 1979 pilgrimage to Poland sparked Solidarity, leading to more than one million people marching in Warsaw in June 1989 and accelerating the Eastern-Bloc communist collapse; he later met Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, highlighting papal diplomatic weight. Pope Leo III’s recent appeal to President Vladimir Putin draws on that same moral leverage to urge a ceasefire in Ukraine.

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Pope Leo Returns

Pope Leo returned to the Vatican four days after lung surgery, greeting about 15,000 pilgrims.
He announced a gradual resumption of duties, including the weekly general audience.
Dr. Stefano Margaritora said no clinical reason blocks the planned November 6-17 South America trip.
Pope Leo called Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a ceasefire in Oleshky, Ukraine.

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