In brief
Pope Leo XIV was photographed celebrating Mass from the tenth floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after a surgery that removed a lung nodule, later confirmed as lung cancer. The 71‑year‑old pontiff, who has no prior symptoms, was treated for adenocarcinoma and has shown steady improvement. Vatican officials praised the medical staff and announced the operation was successful and without complications. The images, released Friday, show the Pope in a green robe beside a makeshift altar, standing before a wooden crucifix. The pope’s doctors expect him to recover over the coming week.
Pope Leo XIV has been pictured celebrating Mass from the tenth floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the first images released by the Vatican since his surgery.
On Tuesday afternoon, the 71‑year‑old pontiff underwent a successful operation to remove a lung nodule; the Vatican reported no complications and that the procedure was radical to ensure complete removal.
The images, shared on Friday, depict the Chicago‑born Pope wearing a green robe behind a makeshift altar, standing before a white wall with a wooden crucifix.
Vatican press officers said the Pope celebrated “with the medical and nursing staff” and thanked the workers for their service.
Doctors reported a steady improvement in his general condition and a good recovery of the operated lung, with a chest X‑ray showing positive results.
Previously, the pope announced the operation during Sunday prayers, describing the nodule as “well‑contained” and noting that tests had confirmed it as lung adenocarcinoma.
The Vatican emphasized that the pope showed no prior symptoms of illness before the procedure.
By Henry Moore
Published 9 minutes ago
