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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

Vatican Surgery of Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass after lung surgery

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on October 16, 2026, following surgery on October 13. The Vatican released the first images of the 71-year-old pope celebrating the liturgy in a room prepared on the tenth floor of the hospital.

During the homily, the pope expressed gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and caregivers for their work with the sick and vulnerable, specifically thanking those who have cared for him. He was joined by his secretary, Father Edgard Rimaycuna Inga, as well as medical staff and members of the Vatican Gendarmerie.

Medical reports from Luigi Carbone and surgeon Stefano Margaritora indicate the pope's general health is continuously improving. The pope is undergoing respiratory physiotherapy and can perform his daily activities with full autonomy.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

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  1. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  6. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova and Notre Dame universities
  7. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  8. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  10. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  11. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Wednesday 21 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass after surgery

Earlier version, Monday 19 October

Pope Leo XIV works again after surgery

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 16, 5:29 AM Agência Ecclesia Português Igreja: Vaticano divulga primeiras imagens do Papa após operação
  2. Oct 16, 6:56 AM Aleteia Español Las primeras imágenes del Papa tras su operación
  3. Oct 16, 12:59 AM ACI Digital Português Santa Sé divulga primeiras fotos do papa Leão XIV depois de cirurgia
  4. Oct 16, 2:28 PM Religion News Service Photo Gallery: First images of Pope Leo XIV after surgery, letters of healing
  5. Oct 21, 6:34 AM Diocese of Linz Deutsch Nach OP: Papst arbeitet wieder
  6. Oct 16, 5:32 AM Katolici Македонски Папата Лав XIV продолжува да закрепнува, служеше света Литургија за персоналот на „Џемели“

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  6. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova and Notre Dame universities
  7. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  8. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  10. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  11. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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