Pope Leo XIV was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic in Rome late Tuesday morning, October 13, 2026, to undergo surgery for the removal of a localized nodule in his lung. Despite the unexpected nature of the medical intervention, senior Church officials reported that the 71-year-old pontiff remained in good spirits and approached the procedure with notable calmness.
The scheduled procedure follows an announcement made by Pope Leo on Sunday, October 11, during his weekly Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square. Addressing the faithful, the Pope explained that the small nodule had been detected during routine diagnostic examinations.
”It was detected at a very early stage and is circumscribed,” Pope Leo stated on Sunday. “The doctors believe it is best to take action, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it.”
Cardinals and Vatican leadership expressed optimism regarding the surgery, describing the Pope as composed and relaxed ahead of his hospital stay.
Speaking to Italian news outlet Rai News on Tuesday, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin recounted a meeting with the Pope on Monday evening.
“We spoke with great serenity,” Cardinal Parolin said. “He is truly a great example. The announcement came like a bolt out of the blue, nobody expected it. Thank God it was detected immediately, so the operation could take place immediately. Normally, when these things are caught in time, they can be resolved.”
Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni confirmed during a briefing on Monday that the medical team advised a brief post-operative recovery period, with the pontiff expected to remain at Gemelli Hospital for approximately one week.
According to the Prefecture of the Papal Household, all official papal audiences and public engagements have been cancelled through Tuesday, October 20, to accommodate the Pope’s recovery period. As a result, Pope Leo did not attend Tuesday afternoon’s session in the Paul VI Hall commemorating the anniversary of Amoris laetitia.
Surgeons at Gemelli Hospital are slated to perform the low-risk procedure on Tuesday afternoon, with detailed clinical updates expected from the hospital’s medical team later in the evening. Vatican officials remain confident that, following a full recovery, Pope Leo XIV will be able to resume his planned international schedule, which includes a multi-nation tour of South America set for November.
