Pope Leo XIV to be Hospitalized for Lung Nodule Surgery, BioBioChile reports
Pope Leo XIV will be admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic at midday on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, to undergo surgery for a circumscribed lung nodule discovered in an early phase during routine medical checks, BioBioChile reported.
Hospitalization at Gemelli Polyclinic Scheduled for Tuesday
The 71-year-old pontiff announced the upcoming procedure himself on Sunday following the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, telling the faithful that the nodule is well-localized and was detected very early. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, confirmed the Tuesday morning hospital entry time in a briefing to journalists, adding that postoperative recovery is expected to last approximately one week.
The intervention takes place at the Gemelli Polyclinic, a major Rome hospital historically utilized by popes, including John Paul II. Predecessor Francis also received medical care at the facility prior to his death in April 2025.
Normal Agenda Precedes Medical Intervention
Despite the impending surgery, Leo XIV maintained a full official schedule on Monday morning. The daily bulletin issued by the Holy See recorded meetings with the president of the Nicaraguan Episcopal Conference, Carlos Enrique Herrera Gutiérrez, and Argentine archbishop Jorge Eduardo Lozano.
Vatican officials confirmed that while the morning schedule proceeded normally, the Pope would not participate in afternoon sessions for the ongoing Vatican summit marking the tenth anniversary of Amoris laetitia.
Medical Recovery Forces Adjustments to Vatican Events
The medical procedure and subsequent recovery have forced several adjustments to Vatican events scheduled for the week.
Furthermore, Leo XIV requested that the synthesis report from the Amoris laetitia gathering remain unpublished until he can review the documents personally following his hospital discharge. In the interim, bishops across the globe have responded to the news with calls for support. The permanent committee of the Episcopal Conference of Chile issued a formal statement inviting the Catholic community to pray for the pontiff’s recovery and for the medical team handling the procedure.
Preparations for Upcoming Latin American Tour
Medical staff estimate a one-week convalescence period, a timeline that keeps the pontiff on track for his first Latin American pastoral tour. The itinerary currently schedules an 11-day journey starting November 6, featuring stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The tour includes scheduled visits to Córdoba, Luján, Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco, and Pucallpa.
The scheduled stops hold significant personal meaning for the pontiff, who spent decades working as an Augustinian missionary in Peru and previously served as bishop of Chiclayo before his elevation to the papacy in May 2025. Vatican authorities have indicated no modifications to the international travel schedule as a result of the upcoming pulmonary surgery.