Pope Leo XIV is expected to leave hospital on Saturday after doctors said he was recovering well from surgery for lung cancer, with the 71-year-old pontiff also holding a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Blood tests and chest imaging found the Pope fit to return home four days after an operation to remove the lower lobe of his right lung at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
The Vatican said Leo would make his first public appearance since the surgery on Sunday, leading weekly prayers with pilgrims in St Peter’s Square at midday.
During his call with Putin, the Pope expressed “deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation” in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow food and medical aid to be delivered and civilians to be evacuated safely.
The Vatican said Leo had reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting dialogue and peace. Putin voiced support for efforts to improve the safety of local residents and facilitate essential supplies, with both sides agreeing to co-ordinate their work.
The Vatican also released the first images of the Pope since his operation. They showed him standing at an altar in green vestments while celebrating Mass in a makeshift chapel at the hospital.
A medical update said Leo’s recovery was continuing to improve and that he could carry out his normal daily activities entirely on his own. The surgery confirmed that the suspected nodule was adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
Doctors are awaiting further tests to establish the precise molecular and genetic characteristics of the cancer, whether it has spread beyond the removed lobe and whether additional treatment will be required.
The Vatican had initially expected the Pope to remain in hospital for about a week and had cancelled his audiences until Tuesday. It has now published the names of journalists accredited to accompany him on a planned trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, although the arrangements could still change.
