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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 at Gemelli Hospital

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in a room on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital in Rome on October 16, 2026, to thank medical staff for their care. The pontiff, who is recovering from lung surgery and a cancer diagnosis on October 13, celebrated the liturgy with off-duty medical workers and members of the Vatican Gendarmerie. During his homily, the pope expressed gratitude to doctors, nurses, and orderlies for their daily work with the sick and for their specific care for him.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated that the pope remained in good spirits and distributed communion during the Mass. While the pope is receiving physiotherapy and can perform normal daily activities independently, Bruni noted that there is currently no confirmed date for his discharge from the hospital.

In a joint statement, the pope's personal doctor, Luigi Carbone, and chief surgeon Stefano Margaritora reported that recent blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed a steady improvement in the pope's general condition. Following the Mass, the pope received visits from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the papal vicar for Rome.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

6 sources40 reports15 languages

Read it in English · Español · 中文 · 한국어 · ትግርኛ · עברית · Latviešu · Polski · Italiano · Magyar · HY · Русский · Slovenščina · አማርኛ · Kiswahili

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Sources behind this story

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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Earlier version, Sunday 18 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at hospital

Earlier version, Sunday 18 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for Gemelli Hospital staff

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 16, 6:49 AM Catholic News Agency Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV following surgery
  2. Oct 16, 7:29 AM The Catholic Telegraph Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  3. Oct 16, 7:47 AM OSV News Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  4. Oct 16, 1:49 PM ACI Africa Vatican Releases First Photos of Pope Leo XIV Following Surgery
  5. Oct 16, 6:48 AM National Catholic Register Vatican Releases First Photos of Pope Leo XIV Following Surgery
  6. Oct 16, 8:13 AM Catholic Review Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  7. Oct 16, 8:28 AM Catholic Star Herald Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV following surgery
  8. Oct 16, 9:07 AM The Tablet Vatican Releases First Photos of Pope Leo XIV Celebrating Mass at Gemelli Hospital
  9. Oct 16, 8:54 AM InfoVaticana Español León XIV celebra misa en el Gemelli ante el personal sanitario en sus primeras fotos tras la operación
  10. Oct 16, 8:34 AM The Catholic Spirit Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  11. Oct 16, 10:54 AM The Leaven Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  12. Oct 16, 10:47 AM The Monitor Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  13. Oct 16, 8:21 AM Angelus News Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV since surgery, cancer diagnosis
  14. Oct 16, 7:45 AM America First photos of Pope Leo since surgery released by the Vatican
  15. Oct 16, 7:30 AM The Catholic Sun Vatican releases first photos of Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at hospital
  16. Oct 16, 5:52 AM ACI Prensa Español El Vaticano publica las primeras fotos del Papa León XIV tras su operación
  17. Oct 16, 5:57 AM Catholic New York Pope Continues ‘Steady Improvement,’ Celebrates Mass for Gemelli Staff
  18. Oct 16, 5:11 AM Vatican News Pope continues 'steady improvement,' celebrates Mass for Gemelli staff
  19. Oct 16, 5:55 AM Vatican News 中文 教宗术后持续好转，为杰梅利医院人员做弥撒并道谢
  20. Oct 16, 6:12 AM Crux First images released of Pope Leo celebrating Mass at hospital after cancer surgery
  21. Oct 16, 7:31 AM Vatican News 한국어 제멜리 병원 입원 중인 교황, 지속적인 회복세… 미사 집전하며 치료진에 감사
  22. Oct 16, 7:53 AM Vatican News ትግርኛ ር.ሊ.ጳ. 'ቀጻሊ ምምሕያሽ' የርእዩ ኣለዉ፡ ንሰራሕተይናታት ቤት ህክምና ጀመሊ ቅዳሴ ኣዕሪጎም
  23. Oct 16, 9:08 AM National Catholic Reporter First images released of Pope Leo after cancer surgery, celebrating Mass at hospital
  24. Oct 16, 9:39 AM Vatican News עברית מצבו של האפיפיור ממשיך להשתפר: ערך את סעודת האדון למען צוות בית החולים ג'מלי
  25. Oct 16, 5:20 AM Vatican News Latviešu Džemelli slimnīca: izmeklējumi apstiprina pāvesta veselības stāvokļa uzlabošanos
  26. Oct 16, 10:00 PM Niedziela Polski Badania potwierdziły poprawę stanu zdrowia Papieża
  27. Oct 16, 5:01 AM Vatican News Polski Gemelli: badania potwierdziły poprawę stanu zdrowia Papieża
  28. Oct 16, 7:47 AM RomaSette Italiano Il Papa al Gemelli «in costante miglioramento»
  29. Oct 16, 5:44 AM Magyar Kurír Magyar Leó pápa szentmisét mutatott be a Gemelli-kórházban és köszönetet mondott az ott dolgozóknak
  30. Oct 16, 5:37 AM Vatican News HY Լեւոն ԺԴ. Պապին առողջական վիճակը կը շարունակէ բարելաւուիլ․ Ճեմելիի հիւանդանոցին մէջ պատարագ մատուցեց եւ շնորհակալութիւն յայտնեց բժշկական ան…
  31. Oct 16, 5:45 AM Vatican News Русский Папа совершил Св. Мессу в больнице «Джемелли»
  32. Oct 16, 5:38 AM Vatican News Slovenščina Papež v petek ob poldne daroval sveto mašo v zahvalo za zaposlene v Gemelli
  33. Oct 16, 6:08 AM Vatican News አማርኛ የር.ሊ.ጳ. ሊዮ 'ጤና ያልተቋረጠ መሻሻል ማሳየት ቀጥሏል' ፣ መሥዋዕተ ቅዳሴ አሳርገዋል!
  34. Oct 16, 11:00 AM Deon Polski Papież w Poliklinice Gemelli: Msza św. i apel o pokój
  35. Oct 16, 5:21 AM Famiglia Cristiana Italiano Salute Papa. Celebra messa, prima foto dopo il ricovero
  36. Oct 16, 5:48 AM Stacja7 Polski Jest pierwsze zdjęcie papieża ze szpitala! W południe odprawił Mszę św.
  37. Oct 16, 4:11 AM Diocese of Hallam Pope continues ‘steady improvement,’ celebrates Mass for Gemelli staff
  38. Oct 16, 6:03 AM Vatican News Kiswahili Hali ya Papa Leo XIV inaendelea kuboreka huko Hospitali,Gemelli
  39. Oct 16, 5:00 PM Abouna Pope continues 'steady improvement,' celebrates Mass for Gemelli staff
  40. Oct 17, 12:10 AM Catholic World News Pope continues 'steady improvement,' celebrates Mass for hospital staff (Vatican News)

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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