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Pope Leo XIV arrived at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on October 13, 2026, where he is scheduled to undergo surgery later in the afternoon to remove a small, localized nodule from his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff walked into the facility through the main entrance and waved to well-wishers who had gathered outside, according to Vatican News. The operation will be carried out by the hospital’s thoracic surgery team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora, with an update expected in the evening.
The pope himself announced the planned intervention on October 12 during his Angelus address, revealing that doctors had found the nodule at a very early stage. “The doctors believe it would be right to intervene,” he said, per reports from RFI. He thanked the faithful for their spiritual support and entrusted himself to their prayers, in a display of transparency that contrasts with the Vatican’s traditional secrecy on papal health matters.
Vatican officials have stated that the pope is expected to remain in the hospital for about a week, leading to the cancellation of all his audiences through October 20. Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni confirmed the nodule was identified during routine medical examinations and noted that Leo appeared very relaxed about the procedure in meetings with cardinals. The surgery will also determine whether the growth is malignant and if additional treatment is necessary.
This hospitalization is the first for Pope Leo XIV since he succeeded Pope Francis on May 8, 2025, following the death of his predecessor after a prolonged battle with respiratory complications. Gemelli Hospital has long served as the preferred facility for popes, featuring a dedicated top-floor suite known as “Vatican III,” although renovations have shifted Leo to another secure room on the same floor, the Vatican press office said. His personal nurse from Francis’ care team is expected to assist during the stay.
Oncologists have indicated that removal of the nodule at this early stage would offer an excellent prognosis even if it proves cancerous, according to coverage by the Los Angeles Times. Leo had maintained his full schedule on October 12, holding all planned meetings before heading to the hospital the next day. Messages of support have arrived from Catholic leaders and governments across multiple continents since the public disclosure.
The procedure comes as the pope prepares for a scheduled trip to Latin America in November, which he hopes to proceed with following recovery. Medical advisers have recommended avoiding air travel for three weeks post-surgery, providing a potential window for the journey if all goes well, AP News reported. Leo XIV’s openness about the issue continues a shift toward greater transparency that began under his predecessor.
