Pope Leo XIV To Make First Public Appearance On Sunday After Lung Surgery
Pope Leo XIV to Make First Public Appearance Since Lung Surgery
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV is set to make his first public appearance on Sunday following lung surgery earlier this week. According to the Vatican, the 71-year-old pontiff is showing steady progress during his hospitalization.
The pope is expected to deliver the traditional noontime prayer on Sunday, just days after undergoing surgery to remove a portion of his right lung as part of treatment for lung cancer. The operation took place on Tuesday, and doctors provided an update on his condition on Friday, indicating that he is capable of performing daily activities independently.
Medical tests conducted earlier on Friday, including a blood test and chest X-ray, confirmed the pope’s ongoing improvement, as detailed in the medical bulletin released by his healthcare team. The Vatican also shared the first images of Leo since the surgery, depicting him attending Mass and standing without assistance at the Rome hospital where he is recuperating.
Despite initial concerns over his health, preparations are underway for his scheduled visit to South America in November. The pope is slated to travel to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17. A Vatican spokesman affirmed that work on the trip is “going forward,” even though there were reports of possible delays.
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected in May 2025, has not yet received a discharge date from the hospital, although the Vatican had previously indicated that his recovery might take around a week. While his surgical team confirmed the procedure was successful, they have not disclosed details regarding the size of the tumor or whether the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes, which could affect his recovery.
Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, a close associate of the pope, expressed his shock at the cancer diagnosis. In an interview with Catholic magazine America, Cupich noted that he believed the pope had downplayed his health issues when he first announced the need for surgery due to a small, manageable growth.
“When I heard they had removed part of the lobe of the lung and that it was malignant, that was more shocking and more concerning,” Cupich stated. “I think people are very concerned and even worried about this but hoping for the best.”
In addition to his medical responsibilities, Pope Leo XIV remains engaged in his official duties from the hospital. On Friday, he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, advocating for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid and food supplies into Oleshky, a Ukrainian town currently under Russian occupation.
