Pope Leo to make public appearance Sunday, first since cancer surgery

After undergoing lung surgery this week, pope can now ‘carry out normal daily activities ​with full independence’, say doctors.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates mass at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Italy, in the first photos released after he underwent cancer surgery [Vatican Media via AP Photo]

Pope Leo XIV is making steady progress at the hospital after undergoing lung surgery earlier this week, according to his doctors, as the Vatican says he plans to appear before the public on Sunday.

The 71-year-old Catholic leader, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer, underwent an operation to remove part of his right lung on Tuesday.

list 1 of 3 Pope says death penalty ‘inadmissible’ as US plans to livestream execution

list 2 of 3 US archbishop says Catholics in army should not participate in firing squad

list 3 of 3 Vatican confirms Pope Leo’s surgery was successful

He is now able to “carry out normal daily activities with full independence”, his doctors said in a medical update on Friday.

A blood test and chest X-ray earlier in the day confirmed his “steady improvement”, added the medical bulletin.

The update came as the Vatican shared the first images of Leo since his surgery, showing him celebrating mass and standing unaided in the Rome hospital where he is recovering.

The Vatican said Leo will deliver a traditional noontime prayer on Sunday, marking his first public appearance since the operation.

Preparations are also going ahead for his planned trip to South America in November, The Holy See added.

Leo’s cancer diagnosis for a pope known to be energetic and who was elected only in May 2025 caused shock and raised questions about the future shape of his papacy.

The Vatican did ⁠not say on Friday when the pontiff might be discharged from hospital, but previously indicated his recovery would take about a week.

Pope Leo XIV leads mass at the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, Italy, where he is recovering after undergoing lung cancer surgery [Handout/Vatican Media/AFP]

The pope’s doctors have said his surgery was completed successfully, without complications. They have not yet disclosed the size of the tumour or whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes, key factors in determining prognosis.

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, seen as a close ally of ‌Leo, said he had been shocked by news of the cancer diagnosis.

He told Catholic magazine America he thought Leo had “downplayed” his health issue on Sunday, when the pope announced he needed surgery for a small, well-contained growth on 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,” said Cupich. “I think people are very concerned and even worried about this but hoping for the best.”

Leo is due to ⁠visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori had speculated that the trip might have to be delayed, ‌but in a sign that preparations were carrying on as normal, the Vatican released a list of journalists admitted to ‌cover ‌the visit.

Work on the trip is “going forward”, said a Vatican spokesman.

Leo also continued to work from the hospital on Friday, including speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the call, the pope pushed for a ceasefire to allow aid and food into the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky, the Vatican said.

医生表示，教皇本周接受肺部手术后，现在可以“完全独立地进行正常的日常活动”。

教宗良十四世在意大利罗马的阿戈斯蒂诺·杰梅利综合诊所主持弥撒，这是他接受癌症手术后首次公开的照片。[梵蒂冈媒体通过美联社发布照片]

据教宗良十四世的医生称，教宗良十四世本周早些时候接受了肺部手术，目前在医院恢复情况稳定。梵蒂冈方面表示，教宗计划于周日公开露面。

这位71岁的天主教领袖被诊断出患有肺癌，周二接受了手术，切除了部分右肺。

教皇称死刑“不可接受”，美国计划直播死刑执行（共3条，此为第1条）

美国大主教称，军队中的天主教徒不应参与枪决（共3条，此为第2条）

梵蒂冈确认教宗利奥手术成功（共3条，此为第3条）

他的医生在周五发布的医疗报告中表示，他现在能够“完全独立地进行正常的日常活动”。

医疗公告补充说，当天早些时候进行的血液检查和胸部 X 光检查证实了他的病情“稳步好转”。

就在梵蒂冈分享了利奥三世手术后的首批照片之际，这一消息也随之而来。照片显示，他在罗马一家医院里主持弥撒，并且无需搀扶就能站立，他目前正在这家医院接受治疗。

梵蒂冈方面表示，利奥将于周日中午发表传统的祈祷仪式，这将是他手术后首次公开露面。

圣座补充说，他计划于11月访问南美洲的各项准备工作也在进行中。

利奥教皇以精力充沛著称，而且2025年5月才当选，他的癌症诊断令人震惊，也引发了人们对他未来教皇生涯走向的疑问。

梵蒂冈周五没有透露教皇何时可能出院，但此前曾表示他的康复大约需要一周时间。

教宗良十四世在意大利罗马杰梅利大学医院主持弥撒，他此前在该医院接受了肺癌手术，目前正在康复中。[图片来源：梵蒂冈媒体/法新社]

教宗的医生表示，手术已成功完成，没有出现并发症。但他们尚未透露肿瘤的大小，也未说明癌细胞是否已扩散到附近的淋巴结，这些都是判断预后的关键因素。

芝加哥红衣主教布莱斯·库皮奇被视为利奥的亲密盟友，他说他对利奥被诊断出癌症的消息感到震惊。

他告诉天主教杂志《美国》，他认为利奥教宗在周日“淡化”了他的健康问题。当时教宗宣布，他需要接受手术，切除肺部一个很小的、控制良好的肿块。

“当我听说他们切除了部分肺叶，而且是恶性肿瘤时，我更加震惊，也更加担忧，”库皮奇说。“我认为人们对此非常关心，甚至感到焦虑，但都希望一切顺利。”

利奥教宗将于11月6日至17日访问乌拉圭、阿根廷和秘鲁。秘鲁总统藤森庆子曾猜测此次访问可能会推迟，但梵蒂冈公布了一份获准报道此次访问的记者名单，这表明准备工作正在正常进行。

梵蒂冈发言人表示，此次行程的筹备工作“正在推进”。

周五，利奥教皇继续在医院开展工作，包括与俄罗斯总统普京通电话。梵蒂冈方面表示，通话中，教皇敦促停火，以便向被俄罗斯占领的乌克兰城镇奥列什基运送援助物资和食品。