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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 at Gemelli Polyclinic on Friday, October 16, 2026, while recovering from surgery. Because the hospital chapel is undergoing renovations, the Pope presided over the liturgy in a room specifically prepared on the tenth floor.

During the Mass, the Pope thanked doctors, nurses, and support staff for their daily care of patients and for the assistance provided during his own postoperative recovery. The celebration was attended by medical personnel and members of the Vatican Gendarmerie.

A medical bulletin released that morning indicated the Pope's general condition is steadily improving. Following an operation on October 13, he has been undergoing respiratory physiotherapy and can now perform daily activities independently. The Holy See Press Office released the first two photographs of the Pope during the celebration, showing him in prayer and elevating the consecrated host.

In addition to his religious duties, the Pope has continued his work, which included receiving letters and drawings from children in the pediatric oncology department. He also held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to express concern regarding the humanitarian situation in Olenshky and to request a truce.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

5 sources19 reports10 languages

Read it in Polski · Italiano · Čeština · Español · Português · BE · Lietuvių · English · Hrvatski · Deutsch

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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

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Earlier version, Saturday 17 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at Gemelli hospital

Earlier version, Saturday 17 October

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in hospital

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Oct 14, 11:30 PM Niedziela Polski Leon XIV odprawił Mszę św.
  2. Oct 16, 5:51 AM Toscana Oggi Italiano Papa: in miglioramento, ha celebrato la Messa
  3. Oct 16, 5:50 AM Církev.cz Čeština Papežův zdravotní stav se nadále zlepšuje, v nemocnici slavil mši svatou
  4. Oct 16, 5:05 AM Vida Nueva Español El papa León XIV, “en mejoría constante”, celebra la misa en el hospital
  5. Oct 16, 6:16 AM Exaudi Español El Papa León XIV celebra la Eucaristía rodeado de quienes cuidan de su salud
  6. Oct 16, 6:00 AM Canção Nova Português Papa Leão XIV celebra missa no hospital e agradece à equipe médica
  7. Oct 16, 5:33 AM Vatican News BE Леў XIV цэлебраваў Імшу і падзякаваў медыкам за клопат
  8. Oct 16, 5:23 AM Vatican News Lietuvių Popiežius ligoninėje aukojo Mišias
  9. Oct 16, 11:28 AM Voz Portucalense Português Hospital Gemelli: Papa já celebrou Eucaristia no hospital
  10. Oct 16, 8:39 AM Agenzia SIR Italiano Leone XIV: in miglioramento, prime foto e telefonata con Putin
  11. Oct 16, 10:18 AM Diocese of Cremona Italiano Leone XIV: in miglioramento, prime foto e telefonata con Putin
  12. Oct 16, 7:46 PM ZENIT News Agency 3 days after his surgery, photos of the Pope were published, and that day saw the highest number of visitors and phone calls
  13. Oct 15, 12:00 AM Aleteia Português Noite tranquila para Leão XIV. Cardeal Spengler em Roma comenta diagnóstico após operação do Papa
  14. Oct 15, 12:21 AM RomaSette Italiano Leone al Gemelli: «Trascorsa bene la notte»
  15. Oct 16, 5:26 AM ACI Stampa Italiano Papa Leone XIV ha presieduto la Messa al Gemelli, costante miglioramento delle condizioni generali
  16. Oct 16, 5:30 AM Vatican News Italiano Il Papa al Gemelli in costante miglioramento, ha celebrato la Messa: grazie per le cure
  17. Oct 16, 5:36 AM Omnes Español ”Mejora constante” del Papa, que ha celebrado Misa en el hospital
  18. Oct 16, 5:49 AM Vatican News Hrvatski Papa u Poliklinici Gemelli: Dobro se oporavlja, slavio je misu i zahvalio na skrbi
  19. Oct 16, 7:15 AM DOMRADIO.DE Deutsch Stetige Besserung des Allgemeinzustands / Papst Leo offenbar weiter auf Genesungskurs

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

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