Pope Leo XIV is expected to make his first public appearance on Sunday since undergoing surgery on his right lung, as the Vatican reports continued improvement in the pontiff’s condition.
The 71-year-old Catholic leader is scheduled to deliver the traditional midday prayer following an operation on Tuesday to remove part of his right lung after doctors diagnosed cancer.
In a medical update issued on Friday, his doctors said Leo was recovering well and could “carry out normal daily activities with full independence”.
The medical team also reported that blood tests and a chest X-ray conducted earlier in the day showed “steady improvement” in his condition.
The Vatican subsequently released the first photographs of the pope since the operation. The images showed him celebrating Mass and standing without assistance at the hospital in Rome, where he is receiving treatment.
The planned appearance comes as the Vatican continues preparations for Leo’s scheduled trip to South America in November, despite concerns about his health following the cancer diagnosis.
Leo, who was elected pope in May 2025, has yet to be given a date for his discharge from hospital. The Vatican had earlier indicated that his recovery would take approximately one week.
Although doctors confirmed that the operation was successful and concluded without complications, they have not revealed the size of the tumour or whether the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes. Such details could be important in determining his long-term prognosis.
Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, considered a close ally of the pope, said he was taken aback by the severity of Leo’s condition after learning that the growth removed during surgery was malignant.
Speaking to Catholic magazine America, Cupich suggested that the pontiff might have understated the seriousness of his health concerns when he announced on Sunday that he required surgery for what he described as a small, well-contained growth in his lung.
“When I heard they took out part of the lobe of the lung and that it was malignant, that was more shocking and more concerning,” Cupich said.
“I think people are very concerned and even worried about this but hoping for the best,” he added.
The pope is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. Although Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori had suggested that the trip could be postponed, the Vatican has continued preparations, including publishing a list of journalists accredited to cover the visit.
A Vatican spokesperson confirmed that arrangements for the trip were “going forward”.
Despite his hospitalisation, Leo continued carrying out official duties on Friday, including a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the conversation, the pope called for a ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and food supplies to Oleshky, a Ukrainian town under Russian occupation, the Vatican said.
Pope Leo XIV set for first public appearance after cancer surgery