In a news report from Epoch Times on October 19, 2026, it was announced that Pope Leo XIV will meet pilgrims at the Vatican on Wednesday, October 21. This will mark his first public audience event since undergoing lung cancer surgery.
According to news from the Vatican’s official news agency, Vatican News, the Pope will not be traveling to his residence in Castel Gandolfo this week, but will remain at the Vatican to continue his recovery. On October 21, he will host his weekly public audience event at St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope underwent surgery for lung adenocarcinoma on October 13. The Vatican News office reported on Monday the Pope’s latest health status, stating that he was discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday, October 17, after a five-day hospitalization.
At the age of 71, the Pope underwent cancer surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Speculation has arisen about how his health may impact his papal term, which has lasted only 17 months.
On Sunday, October 18, the Pope appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace, greeting around 15,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Throughout most of the year, the Pope typically holds public audience events on Wednesdays to meet pilgrims from around the world. When the weather is nice, the event usually takes place in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope often travels among the crowd in an open-top popemobile, engaging closely with the people. The number of attendees at these events often reaches tens of thousands.
Pope Leo XIV was elected as Pope in May 2025. He is suffering from lung adenocarcinoma, which is the most common type of lung cancer.
The Pope’s doctors have stated that the surgery went smoothly without any complications. However, the specific size of the tumor and whether cancer cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes have not been disclosed.
Apart from this week’s event on Wednesday, the Vatican has not yet announced the Pope’s future schedule.
The Pope was originally scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17. This would be one of the most tightly packed travel itineraries for a Pope in decades. It is currently uncertain whether this visit will proceed as planned.