In brief
Pope Leo XIV was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for surgery to remove a small lump discovered on his lung during routine checks. He arrived at the hospital amid a large crowd, waving back to onlookers from the lowered window of his car. The operation, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, will be carried out by the hospital's thoracic team and a ward update was promised later that day. The Pope has already cleared his schedule through 20 October to allow time for recovery and to remain on course with his planned Latin American trip.
Pope Leo XIV was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for surgery to remove a small lump discovered on his lung during routine checks.
The 71‑year‑old pontiff was met by a large crowd that had been waiting outside for several hours to catch sight of him. He waved back through the lowered window of his car and smiled at the cheering masses.
Hospital staff greeted him at the steps, offering support and explaining the procedure would take place in the afternoon. The Pope responded with a calm shrug and assured them he was there for their help.
Earlier on Sunday, during his weekly Angelus blessing in St. Peter's Square, the Pope announced the diagnosis and confirmed the lump was contained and detected at an early stage. He urged doctors to remove it promptly, citing his upcoming trip to Latin America in early November as a key reason for acting quickly.
The Vatican’s statement promised an update on his condition later the same day and noted his schedule had been cleared until 20 October to permit full recuperation.
Mediocre-sized nodules are common and not always cancerous. Removal allows for pathological testing to rule out disease.
Cardinals and other Church officials expressed a mix of support and concern: Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin called the news a “bolt from the blue” yet noted the Pope’s serenity. The Franciscans, entering key Catholic communities, offered prayers and shared their own reflections on the Pope’s vulnerability and readiness to recover.
For the broader Catholic community, the surgery has spurred a wave of prayers, waiting in vigour outside the hospital for updates and chanting the Pope’s mercy.
