On October 16, 2026, the Vatican published the first official photographs of 71-year-old Pope Leo XIV following surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his right lung. The images, released by the Holy See's press office, capture the pontiff during Mass at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he is undergoing postoperative recovery. These are the first public images of the Pope since his hospitalization.

Mass on the 10th Floor of the Hospital

According to AFP, the published photographs show the Pope in green liturgical vestments standing before an improvised altar in a 10th-floor room at Gemelli Hospital. In two of the pictures, the pontiff looks relaxed and healthy; beside him is his personal secretary, Father Edgar Rimaycuna. The Vatican emphasized that His Holiness celebrated Mass together with the hospital's medical staff and some individuals present in the room.

"He expressed gratitude to all the staff, doctors, nurses, and orderlies for their service and care for everyone, for their attention to the vulnerable, and especially for the care, attention, and treatment given to him in recent days," the Vatican press office said in a statement.

Health Status and Discharge Timeline

The Vatican press office has not yet updated the expected discharge date for the Pope, reiterating the doctors' initial statement that his recovery will take about a week. According to Euronews, citing the Vatican, the pontiff's condition continues to improve: the postoperative period is progressing in such a way that he is able to perform daily tasks independently while maintaining a cheerful disposition.

Diagnosis and Course of Treatment

According to media reports, part of the right lung, where adenocarcinoma was diagnosed, was removed during the surgery. The published footage marked the Pope's first public appearance since the intervention and, according to observers, confirmed that he underwent the surgery and is already capable of participating in worship in an inpatient setting.

Sunday Angelus on October 18

The Pope is expected to lead the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer on October 18. However, a Vatican source has not confirmed whether the pontiff will perform this ritual at Gemelli Hospital or at the Apostolic Palace. Traditionally, every Sunday the Pope reads the Angelus from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square before a crowd of the faithful gathered below.