Pope Leo to recite prayers in public Sunday, Vatican says

Pope Leo is showing steady improvement after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, according to the Vatican. As of Friday, the pontiff can perform daily activities autonomously, and he is set to make his first public appearance since his hospitalization on Sunday. The traditional Angelus prayer will be delivered on this day. The Vatican has also released the first images of Pope Leo since his surgery, which show him celebrating Mass and standing unaided. The photographs were shared on Friday.

At present, no communication has been received from medical staff regarding Pope Leo's discharge, but the Vatican's spokesman stated that a one-week timeframe was initially provided. Pope Leo, 71 years old, is scheduled to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from November 6 to 17. Despite Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori expressing concerns about a potential delay, preparations for the trip are said to be proceeding as normal.

The Vatican has released a list of journalists who have been granted access to cover the visit. The spokesman confirmed that work on the trip is "going forward."