Pope celebrates Mass in hospital as doctors report 'constant improvement' after surgery

 ROME – Pope Leo XVI presided over a Mass at the Gemelli hospital Friday as doctors said the American pontiff had showed “constant improvement” in health after undergoing surgery earlier this week for the removal of a cancerous nodule from his lung, the Vatican said.

 The Vatican Media issued photos of the 71-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Church for the first time since he was admitted to the hospital in north Rome. The pope celebrated the mass for hospital staff and his security staff from the Vatican Gendarmerie on his own in a chapel at the hospital whereas on Thursday he had concelebrated Mass with the hospital chaplain assisting him.

In a statement doctors Luigi Carbone and Prof. Stefano Margaritora in charge of the team that has been treating the pontiff said “the Holy Father this morning had blood tests and  chest X-ray that confirmed the constant improvement of his general condition.”

“ His post-operation recovery allows him to carry out normal daily activity without any need for assistance.”

The Vatican press office said Leo resumed some work on Friday, adding without elaborating that he would give his weekly Angelus blessing on Sunday.