In brief
After a successful removal of a lung nodule that turned out to be cancerous, Pope Leo XIV held an extraordinary Mass in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The 71‑year‑old pontiff thanked doctors and nurses while he sat behind a makeshift altar in a green cassock. He also took a toll‑free call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging a ceasefire in the occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky. Doctors report an improved condition and a positive chest X‑ray, and the Pope is expected to stay in the hospital for about a week as he recovers.
In a historic moment, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a Mass from the fifth floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital following a successful left‑lobe lung removal that revealed an early‑stage adenocarcinoma.
The 71‑year‑old pontiff, who was in the hospital overnight, sang the ordinary of the Mass while surrounded by doctors, nurses and his personal secretary. He wore a green cassock and lifted a wooden cross as a sign of peace.
The Vatican press office said the operation was “successful” and “proceeded without complications.” Doctors confirmed that a chest X‑ray showed a good recovery of the operated lung and that the patient awoke normally after a brief observation period.
While staying in the hospital, the Pope phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge a ceasefire in the Russian‑occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky, where access to food and water has been cut off for thousands. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said the Pope’s request could become a sign of action.
The Kremlin responded by stating that the Vatican’s intention to help create the conditions necessary to ensure the safety of Oleshky’s population and to organise vital supplies had been supported, and that “cooperation on this matter” had been agreed.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, echoed the plea for a ceasefire, describing the situation in Oleshky as a “desperate” one.
The Pope’s doctors say his general condition has steadily improved since the surgery, and he is expected to remain in the hospital for about a week as he continues to recover.
