Pope Leo XIV is making steady progress in hospital after lung surgery earlier this week, his doctors said, as the Vatican announced the head of the Catholic Church is expected to appear in public on Sunday.
The 71-year-old pope, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer, underwent surgery on Tuesday to remove part of his right lung. In a medical update on Friday, his doctors said he can now "perform daily activities with complete independence." Blood tests and a chest X-ray the same day confirmed the pope's "steady improvement."
The news came as the Vatican released the first images of Pope Leo XIV since the operation, showing him celebrating Mass and standing unaided at the Rome hospital where he is recovering. The Vatican said the pope will deliver the traditional noon prayer on Sunday, marking his first public appearance since the surgery.
Preparations are also under way for the pope's planned visit to South America in November, the Holy See added.
The cancer diagnosis of Pope Leo XIV — a pope known for his dynamism who was elected only in May 2025 — has caused shock and raised questions about the future of his papacy. The Vatican did not say Friday when the pope might be discharged, but had previously indicated his recovery would take about a week.
His doctors said the surgery was successful and without complications. However, they have not disclosed the size of the tumor or whether the disease has spread to nearby lymph nodes — key factors in determining his prognosis.
Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, seen as a close ally of Pope Leo XIV, said he was shocked to learn of the cancer diagnosis. Speaking to the Catholic magazine America, Cardinal Cupich said the pope had "downplayed" his health problem on Sunday, when he announced he needed surgery for a small, well-contained tumor on his lung. "When I heard they had removed part of a lobe of his lung and that the tumor was malignant, that was even more shocking and concerning," Cardinal Cupich said. "I think people are very concerned and even worried about this, but still hoping for the best."
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17. Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori had speculated the trip might have to be postponed, but in a sign that preparations are proceeding normally, the Vatican published the list of journalists accredited to cover the visit. A Vatican spokesman said preparations for the trip are "progressing."
Pope Leo XIV also continued working from the hospital on Friday, including a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the call, the pope pushed for a ceasefire to allow aid and food into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Ukraine, according to the Vatican.
