Pope Leo pictured celebrating Mass in hospital after lung surgery
The Vatican released the first images of Pope Leo XIV since his lung surgery, showing him celebrating Mass with hospital staff as doctors reported steady improvement.
At a glance
- Pope Leo XIV was pictured celebrating Mass in Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, the first images since his lung surgery.
- The 71-year-old pontiff was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after surgery on Tuesday to remove his right lung's lower lobe.
- Doctors said tests showed steady improvement and a chest X-ray indicated good recovery of the operated lung.
Pope Leo XIV has been seen for the first time since undergoing lung surgery, pictured celebrating Mass from Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, the Vatican said. The 71-year-old pontiff, who was born in Chicago, wore a green robe and stood behind a makeshift altar on the hospital's tenth floor, according to images released by the Vatican.
The Vatican press office said the Pope celebrated with medical and nursing staff and thanked them for their service. The images were the first of him released since the operation.
The surgery took place on Tuesday afternoon at Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican said it was successful and without complications. During the procedure, the whole lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed to make sure the operation was radical, the Vatican said.
After the operation, the Pope woke normally and returned to his room after a brief period of observation, the Vatican said, adding that he spent a peaceful night. He is expected to stay in hospital for about a week as he recovers.
Cancer diagnosis
The Vatican said the Pope was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after the surgery. He had announced during his weekly Sunday prayers that he would have the operation, telling the crowd in St Peter's Square that doctors had found a 'well-contained' nodule on his lung 'at an early stage' and advised him to have it removed.
Nodules are common and not necessarily cancerous, but the Vatican said that after examination the medical team confirmed it was cancer, as suspected by pre-operative tests. The Vatican stressed that the Pope had shown no symptoms of infection or illness before the procedure.
Doctors report improvement
On Friday, the Pope's doctors said tests showed a 'steady improvement in his general condition' since the procedure. A chest X-ray indicated 'good recovery of the operated lung', they said.
Source: BBC World.
Questions and answers
- What surgery did Pope Leo XIV have?
- He had lung surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The Vatican said the whole lower lobe of his right lung was removed and that the operation was successful without complications.
- What is Pope Leo XIV's cancer diagnosis?
- The Vatican said he was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma after the surgery. The nodule on his lung had been found at an early stage and was described as well-contained.
- How is Pope Leo XIV recovering?
- On Friday, his doctors said tests showed steady improvement in his general condition and a chest X-ray indicated good recovery of the operated lung. He is expected to stay in hospital for about a week.
