Pope Leo returned to the Vatican on Saturday, four days after undergoing lung cancer surgery in Rome, according to the Vatican.
Asked about his health as he left Gemelli University Hospital, the Pope said he felt "much better" before the "holy" cheers of those present.
He underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung on Tuesday. The operation confirmed he has adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
According to his schedule, the Pope will resume some duties on Sunday, when he presides over the Catholic Church's traditional Angelus blessing before the faithful.
Doctors said tests confirmed his condition is "continuing to improve."
Since the surgery, the Pope has held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, met with senior aides and celebrated Mass in a temporary chapel at the hospital.
A Vatican spokesman said the Pope thanked staff at the Rome hospital for their daily work "caring for the sick in their weakness," as well as for "what they have done for him."
The Pope's next major event is a trip to Latin America in mid-November, giving him about three weeks to recover for a journey involving roughly a dozen flights and two helicopter rides.
Pope Leo is the first pope from the United States, hailing from Chicago. However, he has lived and worked for decades in South America and is a naturalized citizen of Peru.
