Pope Leo XIV is making steady progress following lung surgery and is preparing for his first public appearance since the operation, with the Vatican announcing that he is expected to deliver the traditional Angelus Prayer on Sunday.
Photographs released by the Vatican on Friday showed the 71-year-old pontiff celebrating Mass at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, standing unaided beside his personal secretary, Peruvian priest Edgard Rimaycuna. The images offered a reassuring sign of his recovery and ability to resume routine activities following surgery.
A medical update signed by his personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, and Dr Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital, said the Pope was independently carrying out his normal daily activities. Blood tests and chest X-rays had also confirmed his steady improvement.
Pope Leo underwent surgery on October 13, when doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung after he was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. Doctors are awaiting biopsy results to determine the tumour’s characteristics and whether the disease has spread, which will help establish whether further treatment, including chemotherapy or radiotherapy, is necessary.
The Vatican said the Pope’s first public appearance since the operation was expected on Sunday, when he would deliver the traditional noon Angelus Prayer. However, it had not confirmed whether he would address the faithful from St Peter’s Square or from the hospital.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the prayer could be delivered from the hospital, depending on the pontiff’s post-operative recovery. He cautioned against making predictions about the Pope’s discharge or return to his regular schedule, saying these decisions would depend on medical advice and his condition.
A Vatican spokesman said the pontiff’s discharge timeline remained consistent with the initial estimate of approximately one week, although no further confirmation had been received from his doctors.
The Pope’s recovery has also raised questions about his planned South American visit from November 6 to 17, including stops in Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. The Vatican said preparations for the trip were continuing, having released the names of journalists accredited to accompany him, although his participation remains uncertain.
For Catholics around the world, the Pope’s recovery and anticipated return to public prayer mark an important moment as the Vatican continues to monitor his health and await the medical findings that will guide his further treatment.