Pope Leo XIV to Make First Public Appearance Sunday Following Cancer Surgery

Pope Leo XIV is showing steady progress in the hospital after undergoing lung surgery earlier this week, according to his doctors. The Vatican has announced that he plans to appear before the public on Sunday.

The 71-year-old Catholic leader, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, had an operation to remove part of his right lung on Tuesday. His doctors stated in a medical update on Friday that he is now able to “carry out normal daily activities with full independence”. A blood test and chest X-ray earlier in the day confirmed his “steady improvement,” the medical bulletin added.

This update coincided with the Vatican releasing the first images of Pope Leo XIV since his surgery. The photos show him celebrating mass and standing unaided in the Rome hospital where he is recovering. The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will deliver a traditional noontime prayer on Sunday, marking his first public appearance since the operation. Preparations are also continuing for his planned trip to South America in November, the Holy See noted.

Pope Leo XIV’s cancer diagnosis came as a shock, particularly for a pontiff known for his energy and who was only elected in May 2025. It has raised questions about the future direction of his papacy. While the Vatican did not specify on Friday when the pontiff might be discharged from the hospital, earlier indications suggested his recovery would take approximately one week.

The pope’s doctors have confirmed that his surgery was successful and completed without complications. However, they have not yet disclosed the size of the tumor or whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes, which are crucial factors in determining the prognosis.

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, considered a close ally of Pope Leo XIV, expressed his shock at the news of the cancer diagnosis. Speaking to Catholic magazine America, he suggested that Pope Leo XIV had “downplayed” his health issue on Sunday when he announced the need for surgery for a small, well-contained growth on his lung. “When I heard they took out part of the lobe of the lung and that it was malignant, that was more shocking and more concerning,” said Cupich. “I think people are very concerned and even worried about this but 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 that the trip might need to be postponed. However, in a sign that preparations are proceeding normally, the Vatican released a list of journalists approved to cover the visit. A Vatican spokesman confirmed that work on the trip is “going forward.”

Pope Leo XIV also continued his work from the hospital on Friday, including a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the call, the pontiff advocated for a ceasefire to allow aid and food into the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky, according to the Vatican.