Pope Leo has been showing steady improvement in the hospital after undergoing surgery for lung cancer on Tuesday, the Vatican said, adding that he is already able to perform his normal daily activities with full autonomy.
The pope will make on Sunday his first public appearance since his hospitalization to lead the traditional Angelus prayer, while preparations for his trip to South America, scheduled for November, continue, according to the Vatican.
Leo was diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung in a surgery performed on Tuesday.
The Vatican released, on Friday, the first images of the pope since the surgery, showing him celebrating Mass and standing, without assistance.
“At the moment, we have not received any communication from the doctors about his discharge, other than what has been told since the beginning about a one-week timeframe,” said a Vatican spokesman.
Leo, 71, has a trip scheduled to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, between November 6 and 17. Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori had floated the possibility that the trip might need to be postponed, but as a sign that preparations are proceeding normally, the Vatican released a list of journalists accredited to cover the visit.
“The preparations for the trip continue to advance,” said the Vatican spokesman.
