Pope Leo XIV returned to St. Peter's Square on Wednesday for his first general audience since lung cancer surgery eight days earlier, RTÉ reported. He stood in the back of his open-air popemobile, waving and stopping to talk to people.

"The first thing I want to say to you is thank you for the support and prayers," the pope said, according to RTÉ. He did not specifically mention his health. Crowds had gathered for hours in the rain.

The 71-year-old pope had the lower lobe of his right lung removed on October 13, RTÉ reported. He has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. His doctors have said the surgery went well, without complications. They have not disclosed the size of the tumor or whether the disease had spread.

The audience followed its normal format, RTÉ reported. The only major change was that he gave greetings in seven other languages instead of nine.

In his talk, Leo spoke about marriage and family, EWTN News reported. He said the "mutual self-giving of man and woman" underlies the need for "total fidelity" and the "unbreakable oneness" of spouses. He also said protecting families is "more urgent than ever before."

Cardinals and bishops gave him a standing ovation as he arrived, EWTN News reported. It was the first ride in the popemobile since his operation.

The Vatican has given no word on his schedule beyond Wednesday, RTÉ reported. He is due to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. It remains unclear whether that trip will go ahead as planned.

What we know: Leo led his first general audience since surgery and thanked people for their prayers.
What we don't: Whether his November trip to South America will go ahead as planned.