Pope pictured for first time since surgery and cancer diagnosis

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Pope Leo thanked medical staff as he was pictured for the first time since his lung surgeryByHenry MoorePublished7 minutes agoPope Leo XIV has been pictured celebrating Mass from hospital, in the first images of him released by the Vatican since he underwent lung surgery.The 71-year-old pontiff was diagnosed with lung cancer after the surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, which the Vatican said had been "successful" and proceeded without complications.The images shared on Friday showed the Chicago-born Pope wearing a green robe while standing behind a makeshift altar on the tenth floor of the hospital.Pope Leo "celebrated with the medical and nursing staff" and thanked workers for their service, the Vatican press office said.Pope's cancer diagnosis leaves Catholics questioning what comes nextPublished2 days agoOn Friday, the Pope's doctors said tests had shown "a steady improvement in his general condition" since his procedure.His doctors said that a chest X-ray indicated "good recovery of the operated lung".The whole lower lobe of the Pope's right lung was removed "to ensure the procedure was radical", the Vatican said following the surgery."After the operation, the Pope awoke normally and returned after a brief period of observation to his room," it said earlier, before he spent a "peaceful night" at the hospital.Image source, ReutersImage caption, The pontiff is expected to remain at the hospital for about a week as he recoversPope Leo first announced that he would be having the operation during his weekly Sunday prayers, telling the crowd in St Peter's Square that doctors had found a "well-contained" nodule on his lung "at an early stage" and advised him to have it removed.Nodules are quite common and not necessarily cancerous, but after it was examined the medical team confirmed it was, "as suspected by pre-operative tests", the Vatican said. He was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma.The Vatican has stressed that the Pope had shown no symptoms of infection or illness prior to the procedure. Related topicsLung cancerCancerPope Leo XIVMore on this storyWho is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV?Published9 May 2025Pope diagnosed with lung cancer but had successful surgery, Vatican saysPublished2 days ago