Pope Leo celebrates Mass in hospital as doctors report improvement

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at a Rome hospital as he recovered from surgery that led to a lung cancer diagnosis, in the first images of the 71-year-old pontiff released by the Vatican since the operation.

The photos, released Friday, show Leo in green vestments at an altar in Gemelli Hospital. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope presided over the liturgy alone, distributed Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes who were present, and delivered a homily. He thanked the medical staff for their service, their closeness to people who are fragile and the care they had given him.

Leo underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican said the operation was successful and proceeded without complications. An examination of the removed tissue confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, the BBC reported.

The pope had told worshippers at his Sunday prayers that doctors had found a “well-contained” nodule on his lung “at an early stage” and advised its removal. The Vatican has said he showed no symptoms of infection or illness before the procedure, according to the BBC.

Doctors reported Friday that tests showed “a steady improvement in his general condition.” A chest X-ray indicated “good recovery of the operated lung,” the BBC reported.

“His post-operative recovery allows him to carry out his normal daily activities completely on his own,” said a medical update signed by Leo’s personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and Gemelli’s head of thoracic surgery, Dr. Stefano Margaritora.

On Thursday, Leo resumed “a little bit of work activity,” including reading documents, Vatican officials said. He also co-celebrated Mass and met with Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, undersecretary of state, CBS News reported.

Leo is expected to remain at Gemelli until Oct. 20. The Vatican said he would make his first public appearance Sunday to deliver the traditional noontime prayer. Past popes hospitalized at Gemelli have recited the Angelus from a balcony on the hospital’s 10th floor, according to CBS News.

A trip to South America remains on the pope’s schedule for next month, though the Vatican could change its plans. On Friday, it published the names of journalists accredited to travel on his plane for the Nov. 6-17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, a sign that preparations were continuing, CBS News reported.

The Vatican also shared get-well notes from patients in Gemelli’s pediatric oncology ward. Seven-year-old Angelo wrote that he had been on the 10th floor for 36 days. “My mother and I pray for you every night. Get well soon,” his note said.

Giorgia, a university-aged student, wrote to the pope in English about feeling closer to him because of their illnesses. “I pray to God that we both heal and I ask you to pray for me, too,” she wrote.