Pope Leo celebrates Mass in hospital days after lung cancer surgery and urges Putin to allow Ukraine aid

Pope Leo XIV said Mass at a makeshift altar on the 10th floor of Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, standing unaided beside medical staff — just four days after surgeons removed a section of his right lung. Doctors reported that a chest X-ray showed "steady improvement" and that his recovery has left him fully able to manage normal daily activities independently. On the same day he called Vladimir Putin to express "deep concern" for starving civilians in Russian-occupied Oleshky, pressing for a truce to open corridors for food and humanitarian aid. The Vatican has confirmed Leo will deliver the traditional Angelus prayer publicly on Sunday, and planning for a South America trip in November is continuing.

Tuesday's operation, which excised the lower lobe of Leo's right lung, confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Leo urged Putin to permit evacuation of around 2,000 trapped residents of Oleshky, where Russian mines have blocked all escape routes.

The Vatican published the media accreditation list for Leo's November 6-17 tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru — a strong signal the trip is going ahead.