Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Mass in Hospital Following Lung Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV appeared for the first time in public since undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his lung, celebrating Mass in his hospital room on Friday. The 71-year-old Pontiff had a 90-minute operation on Tuesday after a lesion was discovered on his chest, later confirmed as cancer following the partial removal of his right lung.

Images released by the Vatican showed Pope Leo XIV, dressed in green vestments, standing before a makeshift altar in a room on the 10th floor of Rome's Gemelli Hospital. He appeared relaxed, accompanied by his private secretary, Peruvian priest Edgard Rimaycuna. According to the Vatican press office, the Pope celebrated Mass with medical and nursing staff, as well as police officers who were present.

"He thanked all the staff, doctors, nurses, orderlies, for their service and their closeness to people, for their care of people's fragility, and in particular, evidently, for the care, attention, and treatment given to him in these days," the press office stated.

Doctors have indicated that the Pope's recovery is progressing normally. A chest X-ray on Thursday showed "good recovery of the operated lung," and by Friday, tests revealed "a steady improvement in his general condition." He is reportedly carrying out his daily activities independently. However, test results are still pending to determine if the cancer has spread.

The Pope is expected to lead the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday, though it remains uncertain whether this will be from the hospital or the Vatican. Such an occurrence from a hospital window would not be unprecedented, with both Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis having led the prayer from hospital rooms during their recoveries from medical procedures.

During his hospital stay, Pope Leo XIV received letters and drawings from children at the hospital. One drawing depicted a tree "For Pope Leo," and a letter from an 18-year-old girl expressed hope for "better days." A seven-year-old boy named Angelo, who was also recovering on the 10th floor after head surgery, wrote, "My mother and I pray for you every night. I hope you get well soon."

The Vatican has not provided a specific timeline for the Pope's discharge, reiterating an initial doctor's estimate that his recovery would take approximately one week. Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday for the procedure.