VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV was admitted to a hospital in Rome on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, for surgery to remove a small growth from his lung, marking his first hospitalisation since becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church 17 months ago.
The 71-year-old pontiff arrived at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital at 1:07 p.m. local time, where he was greeted by medical officials, patients, and well-wishers before being taken inside.
The Vatican confirmed that a thoracic surgery team led by Professor Stefano Margaritora would perform the operation later in the afternoon.
The procedure follows the discovery of a small, localised lung nodule during a routine medical examination. Doctors recommended its removal, although the Vatican has not disclosed whether the growth is benign or malignant.
In an official statement, the Holy See Press Office confirmed the pope’s admission and said further information about his condition would be released in the evening.
Pope Greets Patients Before Surgery
Leo travelled from the Vatican to Gemelli Hospital by car, smiling and acknowledging people who had gathered to wish him well.
According to Vatican News, the pope greeted senior hospital officials and briefly approached several patients, including people using wheelchairs, before entering the medical facility.
Hospital employees and visitors also gathered along his route.
Some religious sisters assembled in the hospital’s St John Paul II Chapel to pray for the pontiff.
Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the pope’s vicar general for the Diocese of Rome, was scheduled to lead the Rosary at the hospital on Tuesday evening, with parishes and religious communities throughout Rome invited to participate.
The atmosphere contrasted with the uncertainty surrounding the first significant health concern disclosed during Leo’s papacy.
The Vatican has described the growth as small and localised but has not released detailed medical findings.
Surgery Under Specialist Thoracic Team
The operation is being led by Margaritora, a specialist in thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital.
The Vatican has not specified the surgical technique to be used or how much lung tissue doctors intend to remove.
A pulmonary nodule is a small area of abnormal tissue in the lung. Such growths may be caused by infection, inflammation, scarring, or other conditions, including cancer.
Not all lung nodules are malignant, and the discovery of one does not, by itself, constitute a cancer diagnosis.
Doctors can use imaging, tissue examinations, and other tests to determine whether further treatment is necessary.
According to Reuters, medical specialists not involved in the pope’s treatment have said the operation should help establish the precise nature of the growth and whether additional intervention is needed.
The Vatican has not announced a definitive diagnosis.
Pope Expected to Remain Hospitalised for a Week
Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said the pontiff was expected to spend approximately a week in hospital following the procedure.
All his public audiences have been cancelled through Tuesday, October 20.
The pope had maintained his normal schedule on Monday, meeting visitors and carrying out official duties despite the approaching operation.
He also made adjustments to engagements originally scheduled for later in the week.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will preside over a Mass in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday, October 14, which Leo had previously been expected to lead.
The Mass forms part of a Vatican gathering marking the 10th anniversary of Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation on marriage and family life.
Leo has also asked organisers to defer publication of the meeting’s concluding report so he can review its findings after leaving hospital.
The Vatican has not announced any transfer of papal authority during his hospital stay.
Under Catholic Church law, a pope retains his office during medical treatment, even when temporarily unable to exercise his responsibilities. Senior Vatican officials continue administering the Church’s routine affairs.
First Hospitalisation of His Papacy
Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Leo became the first American-born pope when he was elected on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
He has generally been regarded as physically active and has spoken about enjoying tennis.
Until the announcement of his lung condition, the Vatican had not publicly disclosed a significant health problem during his pontificate.
Leo revealed the planned operation on Sunday, October 11, following the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square.
Speaking directly to worshippers, he said doctors had discovered the growth during recent examinations.
“It was detected at a very early stage and is well localized,” he said.
He explained that he had accepted the recommendation to undergo surgery and asked Catholics to remember him in their prayers.
The disclosure marked an unusually direct personal announcement about a pope’s medical condition.
His predecessor, Francis, experienced numerous health difficulties during the later years of his papacy, including serious respiratory problems that required prolonged hospital treatment.
Gemelli Hospital treated Francis on several occasions and has a longstanding association with the papacy, having also cared for Pope John Paul II.
November Travel Plans Remain Unchanged
Leo is scheduled to undertake an 11-day visit to South America in November, including stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
The Vatican has not announced changes to the itinerary because of the operation.
The journey would be among the most demanding international engagements of his pontificate, involving multiple public appearances and extensive travel.
Whether the visit proceeds as planned will depend on the pontiff’s recovery and the advice of his doctors.
Messages of support have continued arriving from Catholic communities, other Christian leaders, and political figures around the world.
The Vatican said it would provide additional information about the pope’s health following Tuesday’s procedure.
As of its latest confirmed statement reviewed for this report, the Holy See had not released the results of the operation or a medical determination of the nature of the lung nodule.
