Vatican releases first images of Pope Leo XIV after lung cancer surgery

The Vatican released the first photographs of Pope Leo XIV on October 16, three days after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his right lung. The images show the 71-year-old pontiff standing at a makeshift altar in green vestments on the tenth floor of Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, celebrating Mass.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo presided alone over the liturgy, delivered the homily and distributed Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes present. In the homily he thanked hospital staff for their daily care of the sick and for the attention given to him. One photograph includes his personal secretary, Monsignor Edgard Iván Rimaycuna Inga.

The operation took place on October 13. The entire lower lobe of the right lung was removed. The Vatican described the procedure as successful and without complications. Leo awoke normally and spent a peaceful night. Doctors Luigi Carbone, the pope’s personal physician, and Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli, signed a statement on October 16 reporting that blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed continued improvement. They stated that his post-operative recovery allows him to carry out normal daily activities completely on his own. Respiratory physiotherapy continues. Results of tests for any spread of the cancer remain pending.

The original estimate was a week-long hospital stay, with audiences cancelled through October 21. Doctors will decide any change to the discharge date. Leo is expected to lead the Angelus prayer on Sunday; whether that occurs from a hospital window or elsewhere has not been confirmed. On Thursday he resumed limited work, including reading documents, and met Archbishop Paolo Rudelli.

Leo first announced the planned surgery during his Sunday Angelus, saying doctors had found a well-contained nodule at an early stage and recommended removal. The photographs are the first public visual record since the operation. The medical bulletins provide the concrete timeline of recovery: independent activity by day three, ongoing physiotherapy, and pending pathology results.