Pope Leo Recovers and Urges Aid for Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV has been shown celebrating Mass at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in the first images released since he underwent surgery to remove part of his right lung. The Vatican said the operation, performed on Tuesday, was successful and had no complications. Afterward, doctors diagnosed the 71-year-old pontiff with lung adenocarcinoma, confirming that a lung nodule identified before surgery was cancerous. The Vatican had previously described the nodule as well-contained and detected at an early stage, and said Leo had shown no symptoms of infection or illness before the procedure. The images show the Chicago-born Pope in a green robe behind a makeshift altar on the hospital’s tenth floor. He celebrated Mass with medical and nursing staff and thanked them for their service. Doctors reported a steady improvement in his general condition and said a chest X-ray showed good recovery of the operated lung. The Vatican said the entire lower lobe of his right lung was removed to ensure the procedure was radical. Leo is expected to remain in hospital for about a week. While recovering, Leo also called Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge a ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city where thousands have reportedly been cut off from food and water. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, expressed hope that Putin’s participation in the call meant the Pope’s request would be acted upon. The Kremlin said it supported the Vatican’s efforts to help ensure residents’ safety and arrange vital supplies, and that cooperation had been agreed, though its statement did not explicitly mention a ceasefire. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk also called for action, describing conditions in Oleshky as desperate.

Newly released Vatican photographs show Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass in a chapel at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the first images of him since surgery to remove part of his right lung and a diagnosis of lung cancer. The photographs, released Friday, show the 71-year-old pope in green vestments at the altar. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo presided over the liturgy, distributed Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes, and delivered a homily thanking hospital staff for their care and their service to people in fragile circumstances. Doctors reported that tests showed “steady improvement” and said Leo’s recovery allowed him to carry out normal daily activities independently. He had resumed some work on Thursday, including reading documents and co-celebrating Mass, and met with Archbishop Paolo Rudelli. The Vatican expects him to remain at Gemelli Hospital until Oct. 20. His first public appearance since surgery is planned for Sunday, when he is expected to deliver the traditional noontime prayer. The Vatican also said Leo spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, Ukraine. Leo expressed concern, called for a ceasefire to enable food and medical aid and the safe evacuation of civilians, and reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to dialogue and peace. He also met with Cardinals Luis Antonio Tagle and Baldassare Reina. Leo’s planned Nov. 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru remains uncertain because of his diagnosis. However, the Vatican published a list of journalists accredited to travel on the papal plane, suggesting preparations are continuing. The article also shares get-well messages sent by patients in Gemelli’s pediatric oncology ward. Seven-year-old Angelo wrote that he and his mother prayed for the pope, while university-aged Giorgia expressed solidarity with Leo and asked him to pray for her as they both faced illness.

Pope Leo XIV called Russian President Vladimir Putin while recovering in hospital from lung surgery, urging a ceasefire in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Oleshky to allow humanitarian aid and the safe, voluntary evacuation of civilians. The Vatican said the pope was deeply concerned about the severe conditions in the city and reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to dialogue and peace. Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, has reportedly received no humanitarian food deliveries since May. The city also lacks electricity, gas and running water, and its hospital is barely functional. The Kremlin and Ukraine assign blame differently: Putin told the pope that the Kyiv government was responsible for the humanitarian crisis, according to the Kremlin’s account of the call. Moscow also said Putin supported the Vatican’s efforts to improve civilian safety and facilitate essential supplies. The call took place as the 71-year-old pope recovered from a procedure to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after being diagnosed with lung cancer. He remained hospitalized on Friday, but his doctors reported continued improvement and said he could carry out his normal daily activities independently. During his hospital stay, he celebrated Mass in a makeshift chapel; the Vatican released images showing him at an altar. He was expected to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday, either from the hospital or the Vatican, and remained scheduled to travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru beginning November 6.

Pope Leo XIV called Russian President Vladimir Putin while recovering in the hospital from surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. According to the Vatican, the pope raised the severe humanitarian situation in Oleshky, a Russian-controlled city in Ukraine’s Kherson region, and urged a ceasefire so food and medical aid could be delivered and civilians could be evacuated safely and voluntarily. The Vatican also said the pope reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to dialogue and peace. The article describes conditions in Oleshky as dire: humanitarian food deliveries have been blocked since May, the city has no electricity, gas, or running water, and its hospital is barely functioning. The Kremlin offered a different account of responsibility, blaming Ukraine and saying Putin gave the pope a detailed explanation of what it called the “Kyiv regime’s” role in the humanitarian crisis. It also said Putin supported the Vatican’s efforts to help protect residents and facilitate deliveries of essential supplies. The 71-year-old pope was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent the procedure earlier in the week. A medical update from his physician, Luigi Carbone, and thoracic surgery chief Stefano Margaritora said he was showing continued improvement and could carry out his normal daily activities independently. During his recovery, he held Mass in a makeshift hospital chapel; the Vatican released the first images of him since surgery, showing him standing at an altar. He was expected to deliver the Angelus prayer on Sunday from either the hospital or the Vatican, and his planned Nov. 6 trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru remained on schedule.