By SUSAN ESSEX

Pope Leo XIV Hospitalised Ahead of Surgery to Remove Lung Growth

POPE Leo XIV has been admitted to hospital ahead of a scheduled operation to remove a small growth from his lung, marking his first hospital stay since becoming head of the Catholic Church.

The 71-year-old pontiff disclosed on Sunday that doctors had discovered a lung nodule during routine medical tests. According to him, the growth was detected at an early stage and remained well-contained. Consequently, doctors recommended its removal.

The operation was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic in northwest Rome, a medical facility with a long history of treating popes. Meanwhile, the Vatican announced that the pontiff had cancelled his public engagements until October 20 to allow time for treatment and recovery.

Gemelli Hospital’s Long Association With the Vatican

The hospital has played a significant role in the medical care of successive popes. It maintains a special suite for the pontiff on its 10th floor, a facility that Pope John Paul II famously nicknamed “Vatican three.”

The description reflected the hospital’s importance alongside St Peter’s Basilica, regarded as Vatican One, and the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, known as Vatican Two.

Similarly, Pope Francis spent an extended period at Gemelli early in 2025 while receiving treatment for pneumonia. The hospital’s established relationship with the Vatican has therefore made it a familiar destination for papal medical care.

Although the announcement has attracted international attention, the available information does not indicate that the newly discovered growth is cancerous. A lung nodule is a small area of abnormal tissue that may have several causes, including benign conditions. Its nature, however, depends on medical assessment and, where necessary, further testing.

Dr. Matthew Triplette, medical director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program and a specialist in pulmonary and critical care medicine, said operations to remove lung nodules are generally minimally invasive and carry a low rate of complications. He added that patients commonly spend a few days in hospital before continuing their recovery at home.

The Vatican indicated that Leo would need approximately a week to recover after the procedure.

Vatican Operations to Continue During Recovery

Despite the pope’s hospitalisation, the Vatican is expected to continue its routine administrative work. A separate team already manages day-to-day operations, although decisions requiring the pontiff’s signature may have to wait until he can attend to them.

The Catholic Church has no specific rule automatically transferring papal authority to another person if a pope becomes temporarily incapacitated. Therefore, even if Leo were unconscious during surgery, he would retain his papal authority under the arrangements described in the report.

Previous pontiffs, including John Paul II and Francis, issued laws and statements while receiving hospital treatment. Their experiences demonstrate that medical care does not automatically bring the administrative functions of the Holy See to a halt.

Nevertheless, the practical handling of urgent decisions can depend on the circumstances and the pope’s ability to act. In Leo’s case, the Vatican’s stated arrangements point to continuity in routine operations, with matters requiring his direct approval potentially postponed.

Pope Maintains Schedule Before Hospital Stay

Before entering hospital, Leo continued with his usual engagements on Monday. He held a series of meetings in the morning and later participated in a gathering involving bishops and other Church leaders at the Vatican.

The schedule underscored the pontiff’s continued public duties before the planned procedure. However, the cancellation of his subsequent engagements was intended to provide time for treatment and recuperation.

News of the operation prompted messages of support from Catholics and other well-wishers around the world, including visitors in Rome.

Paul Kavulich, a pilgrim visiting the city with his daughter from the pope’s hometown of Chicago, expressed hope that the procedure would go well. He also voiced confidence in the spiritual support surrounding the pontiff.

The Vatican said doctors discovered the lung growth during routine tests. Leo is not publicly known to have other underlying health problems and is reported to enjoy an active lifestyle that includes tennis and swimming.

As the Church awaits further medical updates, attention remains focused on the operation, the pontiff’s recovery and the Vatican’s ability to maintain its regular activities during his absence from public engagements.