WorldLIVE REPORT
Pope Leo leads Vatican prayer, thanks hospital staff
Surgeon Stefano Margaritora says the pope needs about ten more days of recovery and should be well enough for next month's Latin America trip; the motorcade was punctual.
On air: Hank Ledger on BBN TonightPublished
Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Tonight at 7:49 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are ABC News's, the jokes are ours.
From the show
At a glance
- First reported by ABC News: “Pope Leo leads Vatican prayer, thanks hospital staff”.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 7:49 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger.
- Topics: Vatican, Pope Leo.
- BBN covered this story before: Pope Leo greets crowds after cancer surgery (October 18).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPope Leo led the Angelus from the Vatican after leaving the hospital. Lola Cruz is in Rome. Lola, what's the scene?
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentI'm standing at the edge of Saint Peter's Square, and behind me the crowd is still looking up at the window where I assume the pope appeared a short while ago.
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Photo: Getfunky Paris · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Matti Blume · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Marco Pagani · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Rushenb · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Daniel Torok/White House · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
The story so far
- Pope Leo slept well as recovery continues, Vatican says · ABC News
- Vatican runs on autopilot as Leo recovers · The New York Times
- Pope's Health Fuels Debate Over Vatican Candor · The New York Times
- Pope returns to Vatican after surgery; French protests burn town hall · Japan Today
- Pope Leo Home at the Vatican; Experts Weigh the Recovery · CBS News
- Pope Leo greets crowds after cancer surgery · Newsmax
- Pope Leo leads Vatican prayer, thanks hospital staff (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 18, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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