Pope Leo XIV Admitted to Gemelli Hospital Ahead of Lung Surgery in Rome

ROME, October 13, 2026: Pope Leo XIV has been admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, where he is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday afternoon to remove a “small, localized nodule” from his lung.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the operation will be carried out by the hospital’s thoracic surgery team, led by Professor Stefano Margaritora. An update on the Pope’s condition is expected in the evening.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, said the nodule had been detected during routine medical examinations. He confirmed that the Pope is expected to remain in hospital for about a week following the surgery.

Pope Leo held all his scheduled audiences on Monday morning as messages of support continued to arrive from Churches and political leaders around the world.

Pope Greeted by Patients and Hospital Staff

Pope Leo XIV arrived at Gemelli Hospital at 1:07 p.m., where people waiting outside applauded and called out greetings as his vehicle entered the hospital grounds.

Upon arrival, the Pope greeted members of the hospital’s leadership and briefly approached several patients, including people in wheelchairs, before entering the building. Staff, patients and visitors had also gathered along his route through the hospital.

Among those waiting to greet him was Aurora, a student at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

“I wanted to be here to greet the Holy Father,” she said.

Some religious sisters remained in the hospital’s St. John Paul II Chapel to pray for the Pope. Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope’s Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, was scheduled to lead the Rosary there at 6 p.m., as parishes and religious communities across the diocese joined in prayer.

University Community Assures Pope of Prayers

Elena Beccalli, rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, conveyed the university community’s affection for Pope Leo and assured him of its prayers during his hospitalisation.

“As he is admitted to the hospital, we accompany him with our prayers, mindful of the close bond between our university and the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital Foundation,” she told Vatican News.

“We are also deeply grateful for his teaching, which urges us to place the dignity of every person at the centre and to build dialogue and peace.”

Courtesy: Vatican News