Pope Speaks with Putin, Denouncing Recent Attacks as He Shows Recovery from Lung Surgery Progressing
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV gave strong indications Friday that he was recovering well from lung cancer surgery and was very much in charge of running the Catholic Church, speaking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, meeting with top aides and celebrating Mass in a makeshift hospital chapel.
On Friday, Pope Leo XIV demonstrated significant progress in his recovery from lung cancer surgery by speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone. The Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, a city in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of food, medical aid, and safe evacuation of civilians. The Pope further reaffirmed the Holy See's commitment to promoting dialogue and peace.
This development was particularly noteworthy, as it showcased Pope Leo's ability to handle official diplomatic business from the Gemelli hospital while he recuperated. The Kremlin's readout of the call indicated that progress had been made in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky. In response to the Pope's concerns, Putin expressed support for the Vatican's intention to help ensure the safety of local populations and facilitate the delivery of essential supplies. An agreement was reached to coordinate efforts in this regard.
The Vatican also released the first images of Pope Leo since his surgery on October 13, showing him standing up at the altar in green vestments. These images confirmed that tests had detected no spread of his adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, and that his post-operative recovery allowed him to carry out his daily activities independently.
The Pope presided over the liturgy alone, distributing Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes, and delivered a homily in which he thanked the hospital staff for their care. The Pope confirmed that he would deliver the traditional noontime Angelus prayer on Sunday, though it was unclear whether he would do so from the hospital or back at the Vatican.
While questions about the future of Pope Leo's pontificate remained, there were indications that his recovery was well underway. The Vatican published the names of journalists accredited to fly with the Pope during his upcoming trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru on November 6-17. This provided a sense of normalcy, even as doctors awaited the results of further tests to determine the precise nature of his cancer and the need for further treatment.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
