Catholic IntelligenceToday in the Church's year →
Search
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 at Gemelli Hospital

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for hospital staff on October 16 at Gemelli Hospital in Rome as he continues to recover from lung surgery and a cancer diagnosis. The Vatican released the first photos of the pontiff since his October 13 operation, showing him standing at the altar in a room prepared on the hospital's 10th floor.

During the liturgy, the pope distributed communion to those present, including off-duty medical staff and members of the Vatican Gendarmerie. In his homily, he thanked the doctors, nurses, and orderlies for their daily work caring for the sick and for the care they have provided to him.

Personal doctor Luigi Carbone and chief surgeon Stefano Margaritora stated that blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed a constant improvement in the pope's general condition. The doctors noted that the pope is receiving respiratory physiotherapy and can carry out normal daily activities independently.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope remains in good spirits, though there is no current information regarding a discharge date. Later that afternoon, the pope received visits from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Baldassare Reina. The Vatican also announced the pope is scheduled to lead the Angelus prayer this Sunday.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

7 sources18 reports7 languages

Read it in Español · Deutsch · Italiano · English · தமிழ் · العربية · Slovenčina

Read the source

Sources behind this story

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  2. Oct 31, 11:30 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  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, 10:35 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  6. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  7. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  8. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  10. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  11. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  12. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  13. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  14. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  15. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  16. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  17. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  18. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  22. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  23. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  24. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  25. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Monday 19 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in hospital

Earlier version, Sunday 18 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at Gemelli hospital

Earlier version, Sunday 18 October

Pope Leo XIV discharged from hospital

Earlier version, Saturday 17 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for Gemelli hospital staff

Earlier version, Friday 16 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at hospital

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 16, 6:10 AM Catholic New York Español El papa León XIV celebra la Misa en el hospital Gemelli
  2. Oct 16, 8:45 AM Diocese of Tacna y Moquegua Español El Papa León XIV celebra la misa en el hospital Gemelli
  3. Oct 16, 10:46 AM Diocese of Almería Español Una imagen que alegra: el Papa León XIV celebra la Eucaristía en el Gemelli
  4. Oct 16, 5:20 AM Vatican News Español El Papa León XIV celebra la misa en el hospital Gemelli
  5. Oct 16, 6:31 AM kath.net Deutsch Papst Leo feiert Hl. Messe im Gemelli-Krankenhaus
  6. Oct 16, 8:28 AM Avvenire Italiano Il Papa ricoverato al “Gemelli” presiede la Messa. Le prime foto e le prime parole dopo l'operazione
  7. Oct 16, 6:05 AM Agenzia SIR Italiano Leone XIV: costante miglioramento, le prime foto dal Gemelli
  8. Oct 16, 7:19 AM The Catholic Telegraph Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  9. Oct 16, 7:20 AM The Catholic Sun Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  10. Oct 15, 5:00 PM Archdiocese of Miami Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  11. Oct 16, 7:25 AM Diocese of Milano Italiano Il Papa ha celebrato la Messa e ringrazia per le cure
  12. Oct 17, 3:12 AM Vatican News தமிழ் ஜெமெல்லி மருத்துவமனைப் பணியாளர்களுக்காகத் திருப்பலி நிறைவேற்றிய திருத்தந்தை!
  13. Oct 17, 6:07 AM Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria العربية البابا لاوُن الرابع عشر يحتفل بالقداس في مستشفى جيميلي: “شكرًا على الرعاية”
  14. Oct 17, 7:19 AM The Catholic Register Pope Leo XIV discharged from hospital early following lung cancer surgery
  15. Oct 17, 3:53 PM The Tablet Pope Leo XIV Discharged From Hospital Early Following Lung Cancer Surgery
  16. Oct 16, 5:26 AM Vatican News Slovenčina Pápež v nemocnici slávil svätú omšu, jeho stav sa zlepšuje
  17. Oct 19, 12:15 AM TK KBS Slovenčina Pápež Lev XIV. v nemocnici slávil svätú omšu, jeho stav sa zlepšuje
  18. Oct 16, 8:21 AM Angelus News Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV since surgery, cancer diagnosis

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  2. Oct 31, 11:30 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  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, 10:35 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova University and University of Notre Dame
  6. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  7. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  8. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  10. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  11. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  12. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  13. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets with Italian municipalities' representatives
  14. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  15. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  16. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Vatican AI conference participants
  17. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  18. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  19. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  21. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV casts ballot in US midterm elections
  22. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  23. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  24. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle
  25. Oct 31, 6:17 AM PT · 39 sources Pope Leo XIV sends video message to Assisi peace meeting

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

Discussion

Loading discussion…

Catholic News · Comments are signed by readers with a verified address.