The first image of Pope Leo XIV after surgery has been made public by the Vatican, as the Holy Father continues his recovery at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. According to the official account, he also celebrated his first Mass during his hospital stay, while several details about his discharge from hospital and the format of Sunday’s prayer remain unclear.
The Vatican confirms Sunday prayer, but not the format
The Vatican Press Office has confirmed that the Angelus prayer will take place, even though Pope Leo XIV remains hospitalized following the operation performed on Tuesday.
One week after the unexpected announcement about his health condition, according to the Vatican, the Holy Father is not expected to interrupt the tradition of the weekly prayer. However, it has not yet been made public where and in what form this prayer will be held.
Mass on the tenth floor of Gemelli
Today, at 12:00, Pope Leo XIV presided over his first Mass since being admitted to hospital. According to the official statement, the ceremony took place in a dedicated hall on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic.
Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff who were off duty attended the Mass, along with members of the Gendarmerie of the Vatican City State.
Thanks to the medical staff
During the homily, the Pope thanked healthcare staff for their care for the sick and their dedication to people in vulnerable health conditions.
He also expressed special gratitude for the care that, according to the Vatican, doctors, nurses and other staff have provided during these days of recovery.
Medical report points to improvement
The latest medical bulletin says the Pope’s overall condition is continuing to improve. According to the doctors, blood tests and a chest X-ray carried out on Friday morning confirmed positive progress.
According to the information made public, the Pope has also continued respiratory physiotherapy sessions and is now able to carry out normal daily activities independently.
Hospital discharge remains unclear
Details on the progress of his condition were made public by doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, who are overseeing the Pope’s recovery.
For its part, the Vatican says the Pope is in good spirits and has continued working during his hospital stay. However, there is still no confirmed date on whether he will leave the Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday or in the coming days.
For now, according to Vatican sources, the doctors’ initial estimate of seven days of recovery remains in place, while the decision on discharge appears to remain open.
The release of the photo and the Mass in hospital offer the first public signal of Pope Leo XIV’s recovery, but the pace of his return to full activity remains tied to medical assessments and Vatican announcements.