Pope Leo XIV reported 'constant improvement' in his condition following the surgical procedure to remove a malignant tumor in his lung, which was performed on Tuesday. On Friday, the Vatican issued a statement confirming that blood tests and a chest X-ray taken in the morning showed a stable improvement in the Pope's overall health.
According to the report, the Pope will continue receiving respiratory physiotherapy sessions, but his postoperative recovery allows him to perform daily activities independently. This Friday, Pope Leo XIV celebrated mass at noon in a hall prepared on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
The ceremony was attended by medical and nursing staff from the hospital, as well as representatives of the Vatican State Guard Corps. In his homily, the Pope thanked all specialists—doctors, nurses, and assistants—for their daily work caring for patients in a state of weakness, and specifically noted their contribution to his recovery.
Previously, on Thursday, the Vatican had already announced that routine examinations of the head of the Catholic Church yielded 'normal results,' and the chest X-ray showed good recovery. On Friday, the Associated Press (AP) reported that the Vatican decided to cease daily updates on the health status of Pope Leo XIV, as his recovery is proceeding calmly and within normal limits.
It is important to note that the Pope underwent surgery on Tuesday after a nodule was discovered in his lung. According to a medical bulletin published after the procedure, which lasted 90 minutes, the examination confirmed the presence of lung adenocarcinoma, the suspicion of which arose during preoperative examinations. The operation, usually performed under general anesthesia, required one week of hospitalization.
On Monday, the Vatican canceled all papal audiences until October 20, two weeks after the operation. Leo XIV became the head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide and the first American Pope in history on May 8, 2025, following the death of Argentine Pope Francis at the age of 88. Although his style is less lavish than his predecessor's, Leo XIV is gradually implementing his own approach to leading the Catholic Church, addressing pressing global issues such as deadly conflicts and artificial intelligence.