The Vatican released photographs of Pope Leo XIV on Friday, documenting the pontiff celebrating Mass at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. These images represent the first visual update of the 71-year-old American-born pope since he underwent surgery earlier this week to remove a portion of his right lung following a lung cancer diagnosis.
The surgery and subsequent recovery follow the pope’s hospitalization at Gemelli, a facility where previous pontiffs have also received medical treatment. On Thursday, Vatican officials reported that the pope had resumed light work duties, such as reading documents, and had co-celebrated Mass prior to presiding over the liturgy alone on Friday.
Medical updates signed by the pope's personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and the head of thoracic surgery, Dr. Stefano Margaritora, stated that tests confirmed "steady improvement." The doctors noted that his post-operative recovery currently allows him to perform daily activities independently. During the Friday Mass in the hospital chapel, the pope delivered a homily thanking medical staff and distributed Communion to personnel and Vatican gendarmes.
In addition to his recovery activities, the pope conducted diplomatic and administrative business from the hospital. The Vatican confirmed he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, Ukraine, calling for a ceasefire and civilian evacuations. He also held meetings with Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Baldassare Reina to discuss church matters.
The scale of the medical intervention involved the removal of a portion of the 71-year-old's lung, a procedure that typically requires significant recovery time. While the specific impact on the Vatican's budget or Catholic parishioners' daily lives is not detailed in financial terms, the pope's physical capability determines the status of major international events. Specifically, the Vatican’s release of an accredited media list for an upcoming 12-day trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru suggests that a high-level diplomatic mission involving three countries remains on schedule.
A person following the papacy will notice the immediate change in the pope's schedule, as he is expected to remain hospitalized until Oct. 20. His first public appearance is scheduled for Sunday, when he is expected to deliver the traditional noontime prayer, likely from the hospital balcony. The next major milestone for his recovery and the resumption of his full duties will be the scheduled South American trip departing on Nov. 6. Should his health prevent this travel, it would result in the postponement of multi-national state visits and religious liturgies across South America.