Pope Leo XIV was admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, for surgery to remove a small growth discovered in his lung during a routine medical examination.
The Vatican confirmed that the 71-year-old pontiff arrived at the hospital ahead of the planned operation, which doctors scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
The procedure will be carried out by a specialist thoracic surgery team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora.
The Holy See Press Office said further information about the Pope’s condition would be released later in the day.
Vatican Confirms Pope Leo XIV’s Hospital Admission
Pope Leo travelled to the hospital from the Vatican in a vehicle accompanied by security personnel.
His arrival attracted attention from journalists, hospital workers and well-wishers who had gathered near the medical facility.
The hospital admission followed an announcement the Pope made two days earlier about a health concern discovered during routine examinations.
Speaking to worshippers at the Vatican on Sunday, October 11, Leo said doctors had identified a small, localised nodule in his lung.
He explained that the growth had been found at an early stage and that his medical team considered surgery the appropriate course of treatment.
The Pope said he had accepted their advice and asked Catholics around the world to remember him in their prayers.
What Doctors Have Said About the Lung Nodule
The Vatican has not announced that the growth is cancerous.
A lung nodule is a small area of abnormal tissue that may appear during medical imaging.
Such growths can develop for several reasons, including past infections, inflammation, scarring and, in some cases, cancer.
Medical specialists explain that many lung nodules are benign, meaning they are not cancerous.
However, imaging alone may not always establish the exact nature of a growth.
Further examination, including laboratory testing of tissue when clinically indicated, may be necessary to determine whether a nodule is benign or malignant.
For now, the Pope’s doctors have recommended removing the growth, and the Vatican has not released detailed findings about its cause.
Pope Expected to Remain in Hospital for About a Week
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the Pope would probably remain at Gemelli Hospital for approximately seven days following the operation.
The expected recovery period has led to changes in the pontiff’s official calendar.
His public audiences have been suspended through October 20, while other Vatican officials are taking responsibility for some scheduled religious activities.
One of the affected events is a Mass planned for Wednesday, October 14, as part of a gathering marking the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been assigned to preside over the celebration in the Pope’s absence.
The Vatican has not suggested that the hospitalisation constitutes a transfer of papal authority.
Catholics Offer Prayers as Pope Prepares for Surgery
Messages of support have reached the Vatican from religious communities and political leaders following Sunday’s announcement.
In Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope’s Vicar General, arranged a special Rosary prayer at Gemelli Hospital for Tuesday evening.
Catholics across the Diocese of Rome were also invited to join in prayer for the pontiff’s recovery.
The response reflects the attention surrounding the health of the leader of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church.
Leo has maintained an active public schedule since his election in May 2025, making the announcement of his planned surgery a significant development in his pontificate.
Gemelli Hospital’s Long History of Treating Popes
The Agostino Gemelli University Hospital is among Italy’s best-known medical institutions and has a long association with the Vatican.
Previous popes, including John Paul II and Francis, received treatment at the Rome hospital.
Pope Francis underwent major abdominal surgery there in July 2021 and another operation in June 2023.
He was also treated at Gemelli for respiratory illness in 2025.
The hospital has specialised facilities used during papal admissions, although the traditional papal suite is reportedly undergoing renovation.
Leo is expected to recover in alternative accommodation within the hospital.
Will Pope Leo XIV’s November Visit Go Ahead?
The hospitalisation comes weeks before the Pope’s scheduled pastoral journey to South America.
The Vatican previously announced that Leo would visit Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17, 2026.
The planned journey holds particular significance because the pontiff spent many years serving the Catholic Church in Peru before his election.
The Vatican has not announced the cancellation of the trip.
However, whether the Pope resumes all planned activities will depend on medical advice and his recovery following surgery.
Vatican Expected to Release Further Medical Information
The Holy See has promised another statement on the Pope’s condition after the surgical procedure.
That update is expected to clarify the immediate outcome of the operation and provide further information about his recovery.
Doctors may also need additional time to assess the removed tissue before establishing the nature of the nodule.
Until official findings are released, the cause of the growth remains undetermined.
