Pope Leo XIV is showing “steady improvement” after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung due to adenocarcinoma. On his fourth day in the hospital in Rome, he is already able to carry out his daily activities independently, and the Vatican released the first images of the pontiff after the operation. His first public appearance since being admitted is scheduled for this Sunday, during the Angelus prayer.
Pope Leo XIV is showing “steady improvement” on his fourth day in the hospital in Rome, following surgery for lung adenocarcinoma, and is now able to carry out his daily activities with complete independence, the Vatican reported Friday.
The Holy See released the first images of the pontiff since the operation, showing him celebrating Mass and standing without assistance, as preparations continue for his trip to South America scheduled for November.
The doctors treating the 71-year-old pope confirmed his positive progress after performing blood tests and a chest X-ray. Leo XIV remains hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he is also undergoing respiratory physiotherapy.
The Pope underwent surgery on Tuesday, October 13. During the procedure, surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung using video-assisted surgery to remove cancerous tissue.
The first images of the Pope after the operation
Photographs released by the Vatican show Leo XIV celebrating Mass with his personal secretary, the Peruvian Edgar Rimaycuna, in a room on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Hospital, which had been specially prepared for his convalescence. Healthcare workers and members of the Vatican City State Gendarmerie also participated in the ceremony.
During the homily, the Pope thanked the medical, nursing and support staff for the attention they give to patients and for the care they receive from the moment they are admitted.
The trip to South America is still in the planning stages.
The Pope’s health improvement coincides with preparations for his upcoming international trip. Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru between November 6 and 17.
Although Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori had raised the possibility of the trip being delayed, the Vatican assured that preparations were proceeding as normal. The Holy See even published a list of journalists accredited to cover the visit.
The Pope will make his first public appearance since his hospitalization this Sunday, when he is scheduled to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer. The Vatican has not yet specified his location or how he will participate.
Last week, during the Angelus, Leo XIV publicly announced that he would undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule. The positive progress reported this Friday and the first images after the operation offer further signs of his recovery, although his discharge date has not yet been confirmed.
