Vatican Releases First Images of Pope Leo Since Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Pope Leo XIV has appeared in the first photographs released by the Vatican since he underwent surgery for lung cancer, with the images showing the 71-year-old pontiff celebrating Mass at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital as his medical team reported steady improvement.

The photographs, released on Friday, October 16, show Leo standing at an altar in green vestments in a makeshift chapel at the hospital, where he had been recovering after an operation on October 13 to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope celebrated Mass, delivered a homily and distributed Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes present.

In his homily, Leo thanked the hospital staff for their daily work caring for sick people and for the attention they had given him during his stay. The images provided the first public visual update on his condition since the operation, following the Vatican’s announcement that tests had confirmed a cancer diagnosis.

The Vatican said the growth removed during surgery was a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer. The operation was described as successful and without complications. In a medical update issued on Friday, the pope’s doctors said blood tests and a chest X-ray indicated continued improvement and that his recovery allowed him to carry out normal daily activities independently.

The latest developments came as the Vatican prepared for Leo’s first public appearance since the surgery. He was scheduled to lead the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 18. On Saturday, October 17, doctors cleared him to leave Gemelli Hospital, and he returned to the Vatican after four days in hospital, walking unaided and greeting well-wishers gathered outside.

The Vatican has not publicly provided full details about the tumour’s size or whether the cancer had spread, information that would help clarify the next steps in treatment. The pope’s medical team has reported encouraging progress, but his recovery and any further treatment remain matters for his doctors to assess.

The episode has drawn attention to the health of the head of the Roman Catholic Church, who was elected in May 2025. The Vatican has continued preparations for his planned November visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, although his ability to resume his full schedule will depend on medical advice. The first photographs and his subsequent discharge offer a clearer public picture of his recovery, while questions about the longer-term management of his health remain subject to medical updates.