Pope Leo XIV to appear in public for the first time since surgery removed part of his right lung

17 October 2026

The Vatican has said Pope Leo XIV will deliver the traditional noontime prayer on Sunday, his first public appearance since surgery.
The 71-year-old Pope, elected in May 2025, was diagnosed with lung cancer, and surgery on 13 October 2026 removed part of his right lung.
Doctors said the operation was completed successfully without complications. They have not disclosed the tumour's size or whether the cancer had spread to nearby lymph nodes.
In a medical update on 16 October 2026, doctors said he can now carry out normal daily activities with full independence, and that a blood test and chest X-ray confirmed steady improvement.
The Vatican released the first images since the surgery, showing him celebrating Mass and standing unaided at the Gemelli hospital in Rome.
He continued working from hospital, including a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in which, according to the Vatican, he urged a ceasefire to allow aid and food into Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine.
He is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from 6 to 17 November 2026.