In brief
Pope Leo XIV was photographed celebrating Mass from a makeshift altar on the tenth floor of Gemelli Hospital after his lung surgery. The 71‑year‑old unequivocally thanked staff while revealing a new image of his papal chair, a first since his surgery. Vatican officials confirmed a lung nodule was malignant and that the entire lower lobe of the right lung was removed. The pope is expected to remain in the hospital for about a week as he recovers from the operation.
Pope Leo XIV celebrated a quiet Mass inside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital
A series of photographs released by the Vatican show the 71‑year‑old pontiff in a green robe, standing in front of a wooden crucifix on the tenth floor of the hospital. The makeshift altar, set up for the ceremony, highlights the Pope’s unwavering devotion as he thanked doctors, nurses and visiting staff for their care.
The images followed confirmed reports that the Pope’s lung surgery, carried out on Tuesday afternoon, was successful and that no complications arose. A chest X‑ray after the operation indicated a good recovery of the operated lung, and doctors noted steady improvement in the Pope’s general condition.
The procedure involved removal of the whole lower lobe of the right lung, a radical step taken after a nodule that was initially suspected to be benign was verified as lung adenocarcinoma. The pope first shared the news of his surgery during the weekly Sunday prayers, informing the gathered crowd at St Peter’s Square that the nodule had been found at an early, well‑contained stage.
According to the Vatican press office, the pontiff awoke that night, returned to his private room after a brief observation period, and spent a peaceful night at the hospital. He is expected to remain in the hospital for about a week as he continues to recover from the operation.
The Pope’s return to the altar marks a hopeful milestone in his treatment journey and underscores the Catholic community’s support from across the globe.
