The Vatican on Friday released the first image of Pope Leo XIV since his lung surgery, showing the pontiff attending Mass at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital as doctors reported steady progress in his recovery.According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Leo celebrated Mass in a room prepared on the hospital’s 10th floor, where he is recovering from surgery performed on Tuesday.During his homily, the Pope thanked the hospital staff for their care and dedication. “In his homily, the Pope thanked all the staff—doctors, nurses, and orderlies—for the work they do every day caring for patients in their frailty, and especially for what they have done and continue to do for him,” Vatican News quoted the press office as saying.In a separate health update, the Holy See Press Office announced that new blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed a steady improvement in Pope Leo XIV’s overall condition.“On his fourth day in hospital, Pope Leo XIV’s doctors say new blood tests and a chest X-ray confirm ‘the steady improvement in his overall condition’,” the statement read.The Vatican added that the pontiff continues to undergo respiratory physiotherapy and is carrying out his daily activities independently as he recovers.Pope Leo XIV, 71, the first US-born pontiff, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday for surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after doctors detected a mass. An analysis of tissue collected during the operation confirmed lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer.The video-assisted procedure lasted approximately 90 minutes. The Vatican said the surgery was completed without complications and that the Pope regained consciousness normally.Earlier medical updates reported reassuring results from routine postoperative checks, with his recovery progressing as expected.Born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV was elected head of the Catholic Church in May 2025. His public engagements have been suspended during his hospitalisation, with the Vatican previously indicating that he was expected to remain in hospital for about a week.(With ANI inputs)
