Pope Leo called for an end to the violence in Yemen on Sunday (October 25), Reuters reported from Vatican City, as he addressed the faithful from the window over St Peter's Square less than two weeks after having surgery for lung cancer. He waved and smiled to the crowds after reaching the window unaided — the same spot where he announced on October 11 that he would have an operation to remove a small growth on his lung, in the first health scare of his papacy.

Source: Reuters, Oct 25

The 71-year-old pontiff said he was particularly concerned about the humanitarian situation in the southwestern Yemeni city of Taiz, "where the population suffers due to the lack of food, water and medical assistance". "I'm making a heartfelt appeal for the hostilities to stop, so that the people in Yemen and across the entire region can live in peace," he said, in what Reuters described as a very firm and clear voice. Vatican News, summarised by the Catholic outlet Where Peter Is, likewise reported the Taiz appeal and the call for hostilities in Yemen to cease after the Sunday Angelus.

Source: Vatican News via Where Peter Is, Oct 25

71Pope Leo's age
Oct 13Date of his surgery — removal of the lower lobe of his right lung
Oct 11Date he announced the operation from the same St Peter's Square window
9 / ~40People Vatican News reported killed / wounded in Friday's Jordan church attack, as summarised by Where Peter Is

Prayers for Jordan, and for Assisi

The pope said he was also praying for those who had been killed and wounded in the "terrorist attack against Orthodox faithful" at the Hamoud church in Jordan on Friday, Reuters reported. "I'm close to that community and the entire country, which is known for the peaceful and respectful coexistence of different religions," he said. Thousands of mourners gathered in Jordan's Karak province on Sunday for the funerals of eight of the victims, as Awaaz Punjab reported earlier.

Source: Reuters, Oct 25

Pope Leo urged everyone to accompany with prayers a meeting of religious leaders to promote peace that will take place in the Italian city of Assisi on Tuesday. He had been due to attend that event, but cancelled his visit on the advice of doctors to aid his recovery, the Vatican said on Friday, according to Reuters.

Recovery after a localised cancer, doctors said last week

The pope had the lower lobe of his right lung removed in surgery on October 13 after being diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, Reuters reported. Last week, doctors said he would not need any further therapy, indicating that his tumour had not spread — the assessment Awaaz Punjab reported on October 21. Sunday's unaided appearance at the Angelus window was his most visible public step since that surgery.

Source: Reuters, Oct 25