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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

Vatican Angelus, 18 October 2026

Pope Leo XIV thanks all for prayers

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV thanked the faithful for their prayers and expressed gratitude to medical staff following his recent lung surgery. Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace on Sunday, October 18, 2026, the Pope addressed pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square after reciting the Angelus.

The Pope underwent surgery on Tuesday, October 13, at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic to remove an adenocarcinoma from the lower lobe of his right lung. He was discharged from the hospital after medical examinations showed sufficient progress in his recovery. Subsequent reports indicated that no cancer spread was found and no further treatment is required.

During his address, the Pope noted that his experience with illness increased his sense of closeness to those suffering from disease or physical limitations. He stated that he will gradually resume his official duties with the help of God and the prayers of the faithful. He also used the occasion to call for prayers regarding the 100th World Mission Day, encouraging the Church to remain faithful to the mission of preaching the Gospel.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

5 sources20 reports13 languages

Read it in Lietuvių · Українська · Italiano · Slovenščina · Português · Español · Polski · Македонски · Slovenčina · English · Nederlands · Français · العربية

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 9:31 AM PT · 9 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Apostolic Visitor to Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 9:16 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  3. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for urgent reconstruction in central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 9:00 AM PT · 30 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  5. Oct 31, 9:00 AM PT Pope Leo XIV welcomes thousands from Notre Dame, Villanova to Vatican ahead of historic game
  6. Oct 31, 8:58 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrimage
  7. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  8. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  9. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  10. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  11. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  12. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  13. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  14. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives earthquake-affected Central Italy delegations
  15. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  16. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  17. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  18. Oct 31, 5:34 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV approves Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi
  19. Oct 31, 5:33 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV names Martial Bernard bishop of Soissons
  20. Oct 31, 5:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 under-secretaries of the Synod
  21. Oct 31, 5:10 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Albania's bishops
  22. Oct 31, 4:45 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay
  23. Oct 31, 4:32 AM PT · 22 sources Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Latin America
  24. Oct 31, 4:25 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV teaches on faith and culture
  25. Oct 31, 4:22 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Friday 23 October

Pope Leo XIV thanks faithful for prayers after hospitalization

Earlier version, Wednesday 21 October

Pope Leo XIV thanks faithful for prayers after surgery

Earlier version, Wednesday 21 October

Pope Leo XIV thanks faithful for prayers at General Audience

Earlier version, Monday 19 October

Pope Leo XIV thanks faithful for prayers after cancer surgery

Earlier version, Sunday 18 October

Pope Leo XIV thanks all who prayed for him

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 18, 3:32 AM Vatican News Lietuvių Popiežius padėkojo visiems, kas pastarosiomis dienomis už jį meldėsi
  2. Oct 18, 3:19 AM Vatican News Українська Папа: дякую всім, хто в ці дні молився за мене, я відчував вашу підтримку
  3. Oct 18, 3:57 AM Vatican News Italiano Leone XIV: grazie a quanti hanno pregato per me, ho sentito il vostro sostegno
  4. Oct 18, 3:53 AM Vatican News Slovenščina Papeževa zahvala vsem, ki so bili kakor koli povezani z njegovo
  5. Oct 18, 4:24 AM Vatican News Português Leão XIV: obrigado a todos que rezaram por mim, senti o apoio de vocês
  6. Oct 18, 4:00 AM Vatican News Español León XIV: gracias a todos los que han rezado por mí, he sentido su apoyo
  7. Oct 18, 5:16 AM Eparchy of Wrocław-Koszalin Polski ДЯКУЮ ВСІМ, ХТО В ЦІ ДНІ МОЛИВСЯ ЗА МЕНЕ, Я ВІДЧУВАВ ВАШУ ПІДТРИМКУ – СВЯТІШИЙ ОТЕЦЬ ПАПА ЛЕВ XIV.
  8. Oct 18, 8:10 AM Catholic New York Español León XIV: ‘Gracias a todos los que han rezado por mí, he sentido su apoyo’
  9. Oct 18, 7:12 AM Katolici Македонски Ангел Господов: „Навистина ја почувствував вашата поддршка“
  10. Oct 18, 9:38 AM Diocese of Lima Español León XIV: gracias a todos los que han rezado por mí, he sentido su apoyo
  11. Oct 18, 3:37 AM Vatican News Slovenčina Lev XIV. ďakuje za modlitby a postupne sa vracia k svojej činnosti
  12. Oct 19, 3:55 AM TK KBS Slovenčina Lev XIV. ďakuje za modlitby a postupne sa vracia k svojej činnosti
  13. Oct 18, 5:40 AM National Catholic Reporter Pope Leo tells faithful in St. Peter's Square he will gradually resume duties after cancer surgery
  14. Oct 19, 1:10 AM RKKerk.nl Nederlands Paus Leo XIV dankt gelovigen voor gebed na operatie: ‘Ik heb uw steun echt gevoeld’
  15. Oct 19, 1:04 AM RISU Українська Папа подякував усім, хто в ці дні молився за нього
  16. Oct 18, 6:25 AM Aleteia Français « J’ai vraiment senti votre soutien » : Léon XIV remercie les fidèles après son opération
  17. Oct 18, 3:37 PM The Catholic Leader Pope Leo grateful for people’s prayers, intends to resume duties ‘gradually’
  18. Oct 21, 2:01 AM Agenzia SIR Italiano Pope Leo XIV: “thank you for the support of your prayers”
  19. Oct 21, 8:30 AM Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria العربية قداسة البابا لاوُن الرابع عشر…”أول شيء أودّ أن أقوله لكم هو: شكرًا!..
  20. Oct 22, 3:27 PM Diocese of Punta Arenas Español EL PAPA LEÓN XIV AGRADECE TODAS LAS ORACIONES QUE HAN ELEVADO POR SU PERSONA Y SALUD

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 9:31 AM PT · 9 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Apostolic Visitor to Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 9:16 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  3. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for urgent reconstruction in central Italy
  4. Oct 31, 9:00 AM PT · 30 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  5. Oct 31, 9:00 AM PT Pope Leo XIV welcomes thousands from Notre Dame, Villanova to Vatican ahead of historic game
  6. Oct 31, 8:58 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV receives Villanova University and University of Notre Dame pilgrimage
  7. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  8. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  9. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  10. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  11. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  12. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  13. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  14. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives earthquake-affected Central Italy delegations
  15. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  16. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  17. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting
  18. Oct 31, 5:34 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV approves Rescriptum ex Audientia Sanctissimi
  19. Oct 31, 5:33 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV names Martial Bernard bishop of Soissons
  20. Oct 31, 5:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 under-secretaries of the Synod
  21. Oct 31, 5:10 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Albania's bishops
  22. Oct 31, 4:45 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay
  23. Oct 31, 4:32 AM PT · 22 sources Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Latin America
  24. Oct 31, 4:25 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV teaches on faith and culture
  25. Oct 31, 4:22 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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