MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks are going to have an afternoon tip-off for their Oct. 23 home opener with the Chicago Bulls to avoid a direct conflict with Game 1 of the World Series, which is taking place in Milwaukee that evening.
The Bucks announced Friday their home opener would take place at 3 p.m. Central time rather than 7 p.m. Bucks officials said they worked with the NBA office to make the schedule change possible.
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Milwaukee Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins calls a timeout against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Ross Harried)
Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson (8) dunks the basketball while defended by Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Ross Harried)
Milwaukee Bucks center Kel'el Ware (9) blocks the layup of Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (25) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Ross Harried)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Brayden Burries (0) attempts to steal the ball from Chicago Bulls guard Noa Essengue (2) during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Ross Harried)
The Milwaukee Brewers will be hosting either the Cleveland Guardians or Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series that night. The Brewers had earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by having the best regular-season record in the major leagues, and they clinched their first World Series berth since 1982 on Thursday by completing an NL Championship Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The Brewers’ return to the World Series for the first time in 44 years is a special moment for Milwaukee and sports fans across Wisconsin,” the Bucks said in a statement. “Congratulations to the Brewers and the entire organization on this tremendous achievement, and we’ll be cheering them on as they begin their World Series run. The Bucks are proud to move our home opener to 3 p.m. in recognition of this historic occasion and thank the NBA for making this schedule change possible.”
The Bucks are opening their season Wednesday at Washington.
The Bucks also have another potential World Series scheduling issue. They’re scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers the night of Oct. 31, which is when Game 7 would take place in Milwaukee if the World Series goes the distance.
See AP’s full NBA coverage here
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins calls a timeout against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Ross Harried)
Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson (8) dunks the basketball while defended by Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Ross Harried)
Milwaukee Bucks center Kel'el Ware (9) blocks the layup of Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (25) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Ross Harried)
Milwaukee Bucks guard Brayden Burries (0) attempts to steal the ball from Chicago Bulls guard Noa Essengue (2) during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Wednesday Oct. 14, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Ross Harried)
ROME (AP) — The Vatican on Friday released the first images of Pope Leo XIV since his lung cancer surgery, showing him celebrating Mass, as doctors said that tests confirmed the “continued improvement” in his recovery.
The photos show Leo standing up at the altar in green vestments celebrating Mass in a makeshift chapel that has been set up for him in Gemelli hospital. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo presided alone over the liturgy, distributing Communion to medical personnel and Vatican gendarmes present.
He also delivered a homily in which he thanked the hospital staff “for the work they do every day taking care of the sick in their fragility, and in a particular way what they had done for him,” Bruni said.
Bruni confirmed Leo would deliver the traditional noontime Angelus prayer on Sunday, but it wasn't clear whether he would do it from the hospital or back at the Vatican.
The Vatican had originally estimated a weeklong hospital stay, and had cancelled his audiences through Tuesday. Bruni said the pope’s doctors would decide if there were any changes expected to his discharge date.
“His post-operative recovery allows him to carry out his normal daily activities completely on his own,” said a medical update signed by Leo’s personal physician Dr. Luigi Carbone and the head of thoracic surgery at Gemelli, Dr. Stefano Margaritora.
The 71-year-old Leo had the lower lobe of his right lung removed Oct. 13 after doctors identified a suspected cancerous nodule. The surgery confirmed he had adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
Even as questions swirled about the future of Leo's young pontificate, there were signs Friday that it was all systems go. The Vatican published the names of journalists accredited to fly on Leo’s plane with him during his Nov. 6-17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Leo’s ability to make the trip has been in question since his diagnosis, and the Vatican can change the plans at any time. But the posting of the media list signaled that at least on an organizational level, the trip was going ahead.
In the nearer term, Vatican officials were gaming out possible scenarios for the Angelus on Sunday.
Vatican media personnel were seen at Gemelli laying cables for a possible live broadcast. Such appearances have often served as a welcome confirmation of a hospitalized pope’s well-being.
But with Leo's homily Friday thanking hospital personnel who had cared for him, there might be little reason for him to stay if he was medically ready for discharge.
The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said Friday he understood Leo's recovery was going well, “so we're happy.”
Parolin, who was considered a leading contender in the conclave that elected Leo and was recently passed over as dean of the College of Cardinals, surprised some by suggesting Thursday that Leo's pontificate itself might need to be “adjusted” as a result of the cancer.
Asked Friday what he meant, Parolin said “adjust on the basis of his health conditions,” at least “with respect to this next trip,” he said.
Doctors are still awaiting the results of tests to understand the precise molecular and genetic makeup of the cancer, whether it has spread beyond the lobe and whether any further treatment is necessary.
Meanwhile, the Vatican on Friday released photos of some get-well notes that had been sent to Leo from patients at Gemelli's pediatric oncology ward, located on the 10th floor, where popes past have often visited during their own hospitalizations.
One, from 7-year-old Angelo, told Leo that he had been on the 10th floor for 36 days. “My mother and I pray for you every night. Get well soon,” he wrote, with little hearts at the bottom.
Giorgia, a university-aged student, wrote to Leo in his native English, saying she had long loved learning and practicing the language.
“When I heard on the news about you and your situation, I felt it a thousand times harder, because in some ways we're going through the same thing, and it made me feel closer to you,” she wrote. “I pray to God that we both heal and I ask you to pray for me, too.”
Associated Press visual journalist Trisha Thomas contributed to this report.
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
This picture, released by Vatican Media on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, shows Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, where he is recovering after having cancer removed from his right lung. (Vatican Media via AP)
This picture, released by Vatican Media on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, shows Pope Leo XIV, flanked by his personal secretary, Monsignor Edgard Iván Rimaycuna Inga, left, celebrating Mass at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, where he is recovering after having cancer removed from his right lung. (Vatican Media via AP)
A woman holds photos of Pope Leo XIV as she prays at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic where the pontiff is hospitalised, in Rome, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The moon rises behind the statue of late Pope St. John Paul II at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic where Pope Leo XIV is hospitalised, in Rome, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, where he's expected to be operated to remove a lung nodule. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
An image of Pope Leo XIV is seen under the statue of late Pope St. John Paul II at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic where the pontiff is hospitalised, in Rome, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
An image of Pope Leo XIV is seen under the statue of late Pope St. John Paul II at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic where the pontiff is hospitalised, in Rome, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
