Pope Leo XIV is expected to make his first public appearance since undergoing lung cancer surgery when he leads the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 18, as the Vatican reports steady progress in his recovery. The 71-year-old pontiff has resumed some of his regular activities while recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung earlier this week.
The Vatican said on Friday, October 16, that the pope’s postoperative recovery was progressing well. Blood tests and a chest X-ray conducted that morning showed encouraging results, while medical assessments indicated that he could carry out normal daily activities independently.
The planned Sunday appearance will be an important moment in the pope’s recovery following the operation on Tuesday, October 13. However, the Vatican has not yet confirmed whether he will deliver the Angelus from the hospital or return to the Vatican before the scheduled prayer. His participation does not necessarily mean he will immediately resume his full public schedule.
The Vatican also released the first images of Leo since his hospitalization. The photographs showed him celebrating Mass in a makeshift chapel at Gemelli Hospital, standing at the altar without assistance. The images provided a visible indication of his condition as he continues to recover under medical supervision.
According to the Vatican, the pope underwent surgery after doctors identified a small, localized nodule in his lung. An examination of the tissue during the operation confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung using a video-assisted technique intended to achieve a complete removal of the affected area.
The operation was completed successfully, and doctors reported no complications. The pope regained consciousness normally after surgery and returned to his hospital room following a period of observation. The surgical procedure itself lasted approximately 90 minutes, although he spent about three hours in the operating room.
The diagnosis has drawn considerable attention because Leo had initially spoken publicly about the need to remove a lung nodule without disclosing that doctors suspected cancer. The subsequent confirmation of adenocarcinoma made the operation a more significant health development than was initially apparent.
Doctors Continue to Assess His Recovery
Although the latest medical updates have been encouraging, important questions remain about the extent of the cancer and whether further treatment will be required. The Vatican has not disclosed the size of the tumor or confirmed whether the disease has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Further examinations of the removed tissue and additional laboratory tests are expected to help doctors determine the characteristics of the cancer and establish whether the operation will be sufficient or whether other treatment may be necessary. Until those findings are available, it would be premature to draw conclusions about the pope’s long-term prognosis.
Doctors have previously indicated that his hospital stay could last approximately one week. His discharge date will depend on his medical condition and the judgment of his care team. While his ability to walk, eat, celebrate Mass and carry out routine activities independently represents encouraging progress, those signs alone do not establish that his recovery is complete.
The pope’s medical team includes his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and Professor Stefano Margaritora, head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital. Updates issued through the Holy See Press Office have focused on his postoperative condition and the results of medical examinations.
The Vatican’s latest statements suggest that Leo is continuing to exercise his responsibilities while hospitalized. On Friday, he also spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region. The pope called for a ceasefire to allow food and medical supplies to reach civilians and to facilitate their safe, voluntary evacuation.
The conversation demonstrated that the pontiff remains engaged in diplomatic and humanitarian matters while recovering. It does not, however, indicate that he has returned to the demanding schedule of public audiences, meetings and ceremonies that typically accompanies his role.
November South America Trip Remains on the Calendar
The pope’s health has also raised questions about his planned visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. The Vatican said preparations for the trip are continuing and released information concerning journalists accredited to accompany him, indicating that the visit remains under planning.
Nevertheless, the final decision will depend on how his recovery develops and what his doctors recommend. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said the timing and circumstances of Leo’s return to his usual schedule would depend on medical advice and his health condition.
The trip would carry particular significance because of Leo’s personal connections to South America, especially Peru, where he spent years as a missionary and later served as a bishop. His ability to undertake an international journey so soon after major lung surgery will depend on his recovery, stamina and the medical team’s assessment of the risks associated with travel.
Leo, born Robert Francis Prevost in the United States, was elected pope in May 2025. His lung cancer diagnosis has prompted questions about how the illness could affect the pace of his public duties, but the Vatican has not announced a change in his position or any transfer of his responsibilities.
For now, the focus remains on his immediate recovery and Sunday’s planned Angelus. The event is expected to provide the first opportunity since the operation for the public to see the pope taking part in a scheduled papal prayer. The precise format and location of the appearance, along with the timing of his discharge, remain dependent on further decisions by the Vatican and his medical team.
The latest updates offer grounds for cautious optimism, with doctors reporting steady postoperative progress and the pope continuing some of his work from hospital. His longer-term treatment needs, return to a full schedule and participation in the November journey will become clearer as medical assessments continue in the coming days.