Pope's Return to Public Life

Léon XIV made his first public appearance since hospitalization at St. Peter's Square on October 21, greeting the faithful and showing signs of good health. The Pope traveled around the square in the papamobile, expressing joy and requesting children be brought to him for blessings.

Health and Recovery

A week after surgery to remove part of his right lung due to a cancerous tumor, Léon XIV showed no difficulty in movement and appeared in good spirits. His voice, though slightly weakened, conveyed a sense of strength and gratitude.

Gratitude and Faith

At the start of his address, the Pope expressed gratitude for prayers and God’s generosity, urging the faithful to renew their trust in divine mercy. He spoke with a frank smile, despite his still-recovering voice.

Shortened Greetings and Protocol

The usual protocol was followed, but greetings in different languages were shortened. Notably, there were no Arabic or Chinese translators present during the audience, a change from previous events.

Focus on Marriage and Family

Léon XIV continued his reflection on marriage and family, drawing from the Second Vatican Council's Constitution Gaudium et Spes. He emphasized the role of marriage and family in individual and societal well-being, linking them to the "prosperity of the marital and family community."

Marital Love and Fidelity

The Pope defined the "marital pact" as an act of mutual giving between spouses, establishing the need for fidelity and indissolubility. He described marital love as encompassing more than just physical attraction, engaging the whole will of the spouses and expressing itself through tenderness and gestures.

Protection of Life and Social Impact

Léon XIV stressed the importance of protecting life from conception, condemning abortion and infanticide. He called children "the most excellent gift of marriage" and emphasized the family as "a school of human enrichment" and the foundation of society.

Call to Leaders and Religious Testimony

The Pope urged political, social, and cultural leaders to promote family values, calling this commitment "more urgent than ever." He also mentioned the recent beatification of Don Juan Torres Torres and his companions, martyred during the Spanish Civil War, as a reminder to live lives of love and faith.