New photographs show Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at a makeshift chapel in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, in his first public images since undergoing surgery to remove part of his right lung.
The American-born pontiff is pictured standing at the altar in green vestments as he recovers from lung cancer surgery. The Vatican said he presided over the liturgy alone, distributed Communion to medical staff and Vatican gendarmes, and delivered a homily.
Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, said the Pope thanked hospital workers for their service, their care for vulnerable people and the way they had looked after him.
Medical tests on Friday showed a “steady improvement” in his recovery, according to an update signed by his personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, and Gemelli’s head of thoracic surgery, Dr Stefano Margaritora.
“His post-operative recovery allows him to carry out his normal daily activities completely on his own,” the doctors said.
The 71-year-old Pope is expected to remain at the hospital until October 20. He resumed a limited amount of work on Thursday, including reading documents, co-celebrating Mass and meeting Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, the undersecretary of state.
Leo is due to make his first public appearance since the operation on Sunday, when he is expected to deliver the traditional noontime prayer. Previous popes treated at Gemelli have recited the Angelus from the hospital’s 10th-floor balcony.
Pope Leo XIV’s South America trip remains scheduled
The Vatican has also published the names of journalists accredited to travel with Leo on his planned November 6 to 17 visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
The publication of the media list suggests the trip is continuing to be organised, although the Vatican can still change the plans. His ability to travel had been in question following his cancer diagnosis.
The Vatican released photographs of get-well messages sent by patients in Gemelli’s paediatric oncology ward. Seven-year-old Angelo wrote that he had spent 36 days on the hospital’s 10th floor and that he and his mother prayed for the Pope every night.
Another message came from Giorgia, a university-aged student who wrote to Leo in English. She said she felt closer to him because they were facing similar circumstances and asked him to pray for her as she prayed for his recovery.
