First photo of the pope after his lung operation and in "constant improvement": he celebrates a mass with his Peruvian secretary

The Vatican published this Friday the first image of Pope Leo XIV after his lung operation, celebrating mass with his personal secretary, the Peruvian Edgar Rimaycuna, in the Roman hospital where he continues to be admitted.

The two photographs, which show the pope looking apparently good, were taken this Friday noon in the room set up on the tenth floor of the Gemelli hospital in Rome to accommodate the pontiff during his convalescence, since the private apartment owned by the Vatican is under construction.

In the image you can see the pope with a green chasuble and his white skullcap celebrating mass with his Peruvian secretary.

Medical and nursing staff from the hospital were present at the mass, "at that time they were off duty," according to the Vatican.

And members of the Vatican City State Gendarmerie Corps also attended.

During his homily, the Pope thanked all the Gemelli staff, doctors, nurses and assistants, "for the work they do every day caring for the sick and attending to their fragility, and, in a special way, for everything they have done and continue to do for him," according to the Vatican.

The pontiff underwent an operation on the afternoon of October 13 in which the lower lobe of his right lung was removed using a video-assisted surgery technique, a "radical" technique to remove cancerous tissue.

Pope Leo XIV shows "constant improvement" on his fourth day in hospital after lung surgery for adenocarcinoma and his recovery now allows him "complete autonomy," according to the Vatican reported this Friday.

"This morning, the Holy Father underwent blood tests and a chest x-ray, which confirmed the constant improvement in his general condition," the doctors treating him, Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritora, reported in a statement.

On his fourth day admitted to the Gemelli hospital in Rome, the 71-year-old pontiff is carrying out respiratory physiotherapy sessions and can now carry out "the usual daily activities with complete autonomy."