Pope Leo XIV to make first public appearance Sunday after lung cancer surgery
Doctors say the 71-year-old can carry out normal daily activities independently after Tuesday's operation to remove part of his right lung.
At a glance
- Pope Leo XIV, 71, is recovering in a Rome hospital after Tuesday surgery to remove part of his right lung.
- Doctors say he can carry out normal daily activities independently; the Vatican plans his first public appearance on Sunday.
- The Vatican says preparations continue for his November 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Pope Leo XIV is to appear in public on Sunday for the first time since surgery to remove part of his right lung, the Vatican says, as doctors reported that the 71-year-old is improving steadily in the Rome hospital where he is recovering.
The pope, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer, had the operation on Tuesday. In a medical bulletin on Friday, his doctors said he is now able to "carry out normal daily activities with full independence".
Steady improvement
A chest X-ray and a blood test carried out earlier on Friday confirmed what the bulletin described as steady improvement.
The Vatican also released the first photographs of Leo since the surgery, showing him standing unaided and celebrating mass at the hospital.
He is due to deliver a traditional noontime prayer on Sunday. The Vatican has not said when he might be discharged, though it previously indicated that his recovery would take about a week.
South America trip still planned
The Holy See said preparations are continuing for his trip to South America in November. Leo is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori had speculated that the visit might have to be delayed. In a sign that planning was carrying on as normal, however, the Vatican released a list of journalists admitted to cover the trip, and a spokesman said work on it was "going forward".
What doctors have not said
Doctors said the surgery was completed successfully and without complications. They have not disclosed the size of the tumour or whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes — factors that are key to determining the prognosis.
The diagnosis shocked many observers, given that Leo was elected only in May 2025 and is known for his energy, and it raised questions about the future shape of his papacy.
Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, described as a close ally of the pope, told the Catholic magazine America that he was stunned by the news. He said he believed Leo had played down his health issue when he announced on Sunday that he needed surgery for a small, well-contained growth on his lung.
"When I heard they took out part of the lobe of the lung and that it was malignant, that was more shocking and more concerning," Cupich said. He added that people are very concerned and even worried, but hoping for the best.
Call with Putin
Leo continued to work from the hospital on Friday, including speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Vatican said the pope pressed for a ceasefire to allow aid and food into Oleshky, a Ukrainian town occupied by Russia.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- When will Pope Leo XIV make his first public appearance after surgery?
- The Vatican says he will deliver a traditional noontime prayer on Sunday, his first public appearance since Tuesday's operation to remove part of his right lung.
- What is Pope Leo XIV's health condition?
- He has been diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery on Tuesday. Doctors say he is improving steadily and can carry out normal daily activities independently, but have not disclosed the tumour's size or whether it had spread.
- Will Pope Leo XIV still travel to South America in November?
- The Vatican says preparations are going forward for his November 6 to 17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, and it released a list of journalists admitted to cover the visit.
