13.10.2026 16:34
Pope Leo XIV, Head of the Vatican State, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome for the removal of a mass (nodule) detected in his lung. The 71-year-old Pope, who walked into the hospital, will undergo surgery in the afternoon by the thoracic surgery team led by Prof. Stefano Margaritora. The Vatican had canceled all of the Pope's programs until October 20.
Pope Leo XIV, head of the Vatican State, was admitted to hospital for the operation he will undergo today due to a mass (nodule) detected in his lung.
The Pope, who had previously announced that he would undergo surgery to remove the mass detected in his lung, left the Vatican around noon and went to Gemelli Hospital in Rome for the operation.
The Pope's arrival at Gemelli Hospital was closely followed by many members of the press and those at the hospital.
The Pope, who was welcomed at the door by hospital officials, entered the building on foot.
WILL UNDERGO SURGERY IN THE AFTERNOON
In a written statement to journalists from the Vatican Press Office, it was stated that the Pope would undergo surgery at Gemelli Hospital in the afternoon by the thoracic surgery team led by Prof. Stefano Margaritora to remove the mass in his lung.
Vatican Secretary of State (Prime Minister) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who made a statement to journalists about the Pope's surgery, also said: "I met with him yesterday. We spoke very calmly. Obviously, I am worried because I did not expect such a thing, but thank God it is a condition that was noticed immediately and can therefore be resolved as quickly as possible. Normally, such things can be resolved well when detected early."
The Vatican had previously announced that all of the Pope's programs were canceled until October 20 for his recovery.
A FIRST IN HISTORY: HE ANNOUNCED THE SURGERY DURING THE SUNDAY PRAYER
Pope Leo XIV, during the traditional Sunday prayer he made on October 11 from the window of the Vatican office overlooking St. Peter's Square, said: "Doctors detected a mass (nodule) in my lung. The doctors believe the intervention is appropriate, and therefore, on their advice, I decided to undergo surgery to remove the nodule. The surgery was planned to be performed within the next few days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers."
After this statement by the 71-year-old Pope, which was considered a "surprise," the Vatican Press Office also announced that the recovery period after the operation was expected to last one week.
The Italian press also drew attention to the fact that, for the first time in history, a Pope transparently announced during the Sunday prayer that he would undergo surgery in the coming days.
SO THAT THE SOUTH AMERICA TRIP WOULD NOT BE CANCELED
In news reports in the press, it was stated that the Pope decided to undergo surgery immediately so as not to cancel his South America trip covering Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru on November 6-17.
After the death of the previous head of the Vatican State, Pope Francis, on April 21, 2025, the then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the United States, who was elected Pope at the Conclave (Papal Election) on May 8, 2025, in the Vatican, the center of the Catholic Church, took the name "Pope Leo XIV."